Green Bay Packers fans don’t have to worry about Aaron Rodgers drama anymore.
While there’s no denying the new New York Jets’ QB is one of the best to ever play the position, it’s also difficult to argue there won’t be an inevitable circus following him constantly wherever he goes.
This has been the case yet again this season, and Rodgers only played four snaps for the Jets before tearing his Achilles in the opening drive of Week 1.
Since then?
He’s managed to constantly stay at the forefront of headlines, teasing improbable early returns and giving Jets fans false hope.
His latest move is one of the more bizarre most have seen from the former Green Bay Packers star.
Former Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers Is Back, Well Sort Of
After all the back and forth, various reports and jumbled information, Rodgers officially announced he won’t be playing again this season on his Tuesday appearance on the Pat McAfee Show earlier this week.
Yet in a bizarre move, the New York Jets activated Aaron Rodgers on Wednesday, moving him up to the 53-man roster which meant fullback Nick Bawden was released.
People took to social media with some hilarious takes aimed at Rodgers.
Former NFL player Ross Tucker didn’t hold back his thoughts.
“We need to cut you so a guy who said yesterday on TV that he isn’t playing this season can hang out on the practice field.”
What a dick move. https://t.co/ZRtrLaTIPG
— Honest NFL (@TheHonestNFL) December 21, 2023
This is disgusting actually
— Padres Punted 2024 (@friar_stan) December 21, 2023
Imagine being so selfish as a teammate that you needed to be activated even though there is a 0% chance you play, and costing a teammate a roster spot and game checks. Aaron Rodgers is an awful teammate and selfish human.
— Mike Monaghan (@lifewithmikey52) December 20, 2023
The move makes no logical sense as both Rodgers and Jets’ head coach Robert Saleh have made it clear their hopeful franchise quarterback isn’t playing this season.
“He’s not playing,” Saleh reiterated on Wednesday.
Robert Saleh Finds Way To Justify Bizarre Aaron Rodgers Move
So even though there’s no chance of Rodgers playing in a game, he still gets one of the coveted 53 spots players work tirelessly to land.
Saleh said the team had enough roster flexibility to have four quarterbacks active on the squad. So now, Rodgers joints Zach Wilson, Trevor Siemian and Brett Rypien as the four active signal callers.
Rodgers would have been ineligible to keep practicing if the Jets didn’t activate him off IR. Now he can continue to get practice reps with the team as they work their way through the final three regular season games.
However, granting Aaron Rodgers the luxury of getting to practice came at a cost for both the New York Jets and one player in particular.
Bawden, 27, has been with the Jets since 2021 and was released to make room for the former Green Bay Packers franchise QB.
One interesting note pointed out by Rich Cimini is Bawden is one of only five players on the New York Jets to be in the top 10 at his respective position in Pro Bowl fan voting.
He appeared in 14 games this season and made two starts. He caught two receptions for 13 yards and ran the ball twice for four yards. One of those rushing attempts did result in a touchdown, but Bawden is mainly utilized as a blocker.
Other media outlets pointed out that Bawden has been dealing with a new injury and will very likely be signed to the practice squad and elevated to the 53-man roster for the final three games, noting this move was strictly procedural.
