Aaron Rodgers is a full go for the New York Jets OTAs
After weeks of the doldrums, the New York Jets’ voluntary organized team activities are finally here. Robert Saleh indicated that Aaron Rodgers is a full go for the program with no restrictions. He gave several other updates before the Jets took the field.
Here’s our live coverage of the Jets’ second OTA practice, the first one open to the media.
OTA live tweets
It looks like Rodgers is done for the day.
#Jets QB Aaron Rodgers with back-to-back TDs in the red zone. One to Allen Lazard. That one Lazard was just open. The second was a very nice throw to Garrett Wilson through a tight window.
That might be all for Rodgers today. If so he’s 13 of 15 with 3 TDs.
5 for 5 in…
— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) May 21, 2024
Rodgers should give a tremendous boost to the woeful Jets red zone offense.
Now that’s a QB play in the red zone. Not crazy flashy, more subtle, but tremendously sneaky (gonna try to detail it without giving it away) …
Pass all the way, Aaron Rodgers uses his eyes to manipulate the D. Looks hard in one spot, gets the D to flow, goes to another area to…
— Robby Sabo (@RobbySabo) May 21, 2024
Touchdown Garrett!
Aaron Rodgers to Garrett Wilson for a short touchdown. Draped in coverage by CJ Mosley. Wilson celebrated by immediately shooting the football like a basketball. #Jets
— Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt) May 21, 2024
But Wilson won’t let Sauce own the day, either.
Aaron Rodgers hits Garrett Wilson with Sauce draped all over him. Solid coverage but better route and throw (placed where needed to be, outside).
Malachi Corley snags one in stride, wide open, I think from Tyrod but not positive. #Jets
— Robby Sabo (@RobbySabo) May 21, 2024
Aaron Rodgers just threw it behind Garrett Wilson — and Garrett impressively caught it anyway, turning his whole body in the opposite direction.
— Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt) May 21, 2024
Sauce Gardner isn’t going to let Rodgers beat him without a fight.
Sauce Gardner with a great diving PBU while covering Garrett Wilson. Forced an Aaron Rodgers incompletion. #Jets
— Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt) May 21, 2024
One of the more interesting camp battles will be between undrafted free agent edge rushers Braiden McGregor and Eric Watts, both of whom might have a chance to make the roster.
Undrafted DL Eric Watts looking good. Beat Olu Fashanu on a rep and might’ve come close to sacking Tyrod Taylor. #Jets
— Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt) May 21, 2024
Rodgers finished up a set of drills with one miss, leaving him nearly perfect.
Aaron Rodgers missed Xavier Gipson deep for his first incompletion. He’s done this set of drills.
He’s 10 of 11 today with the TD.
– 5 of 5 on 7-on-7
– 5 of 6 in 11-on-11 with the TD #Jets— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) May 21, 2024
The Jets get their first look at their new left tackle — and it’s a sight to behold.
Tyron Smith is just stonewalling dudes in team drills.
— Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt) May 21, 2024
Rodgers to Xavier Gipson for the touchdown!
And there’s your first highlight of the summer.
Aaron Rodgers with a laser down the seam for a touchdown to Xavier Gipson.
Great pass between closing safety after Gipson beat corner. About 40 yards. #Jets QB is back.
— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) May 21, 2024
Aaron Rodgers just had one of those vintage throws, zipping in a pass to a heavily covered Xavier Gipson down the middle of the field for a “TD” in team drills. It was pretty. #Jets
— Dennis Waszak Jr. (@DWAZ73) May 21, 2024
Rodgers brings a different experience to drills, especially after watching Jets quarterbacks over the past few seasons.
It’s funny to me watching Aaron Rodgers in 7-on-7 drills and realizing this is how it’s supposed to look. Lost track of how many times #Jets QBs completed 50-60% of their passes in these drills. Rodgers surgical.
— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) May 21, 2024
The defense finally picked up a win against Rodgers.
After finding Lazard on a quick concept (sideline), defense picked up a win against AR. Coverage was transparent, so Rodgers knew it, but there wasn’t much downfield. Secondary (option) comp to Gipson that may or may not have happened if live. #Jets
Then, Irv Charles sighting…
— Robby Sabo (@RobbySabo) May 21, 2024
The Rodgers-to-Garrett Wilson connection will be critical for the Jets this season.
#Jets go 7v7, Aaron Rodgers pump fake, easy money to Garrett Wilson with RAC opp. Quicker design with purpose, finding the right spot against a specific coverage in a specific situation.
— Robby Sabo (@RobbySabo) May 21, 2024
Rodgers is hitting players at the bottom of the Jets’ depth chart.
Second play of teams (remember, these are OTAs, so that means shorts, etc.), Rodgers hits RB Valladay on what was most definitely *not* a primary read. Winning read/throw for solid gain against solid coverage.
A little later, AR finds Yeboah for a much bigger gain. Wide open,…
— Robby Sabo (@RobbySabo) May 21, 2024
The Jets are warming up on the field.
Standard order of things so far: Team warmups into positionals, and now into broader positionals. QBs working with the receivers against air, defense walking through some looks, OL still together. #Jets
Rodgers was just talking with Kuntz about something (perhaps timing…
— Robby Sabo (@RobbySabo) May 21, 2024
#Jets rookie WR Malachi Corley going through drills at OTAs pic.twitter.com/rMOaudVURs
— Harrison Glaser (@NYJetsTFMedia) May 21, 2024
#Jets pro bowl defensive end Jermaine Johnson looks like he lost some weight this offseason. Definitely leaner pic.twitter.com/kOedsfvvX5
— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) May 21, 2024
The #Jets QBs. pic.twitter.com/Gi0UXe5Je9
— Robby Sabo (@RobbySabo) May 21, 2024
Long-distance view of Aaron Rodgers (8) warming up on day 2 of OTAs. #Jets pic.twitter.com/UZrykJxGcY
— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) May 21, 2024
And the #Jets are off and running at OTAs (well, with the media watching). I swear, May’s 80 is far worse than August’s 92 degrees. Just cannot acclimate quick enough. pic.twitter.com/mah6WQroOz
— Robby Sabo (@RobbySabo) May 21, 2024
And we’re back pic.twitter.com/SkF9k42TOT
— Brian Costello (@BrianCoz) May 21, 2024
Missing players
Quinnen Williams, Breece Hall, and Haason Reddick were not seen at today’s OTA, per ESPN’s Rich Cimini. The practices are voluntary.
Injury updates: Vera-Tucker, Williams not cleared
As OTAs started, Alijah Vera-Tucker, Mike Williams, and Morgan Moses were off on a side field. According to Saleh, none of them have been cleared for full football activities yet. Vera-Tucker tore his Achilles in Week 5 of the 2023 season. Williams tore his ACL in Week 3. Moses had offseason surgery to fix a torn labrum in his shoulder that he played with throughout the 2023 season.
John Simpson is also working on the side, per Brian Costello of The New York Post.
On the plus side, Olu Fashanu and Tyron Smith are practicing.
Open safety competition
Per Saleh, Chuck Clark is a full go for OTAs after tearing his ACL during last offseason’s program. The surprise is a full safety competition: Clark vs. Tony Adams vs. Ashtyn Davis.
