Jets Have Been Smart With How They Handle Aaron Rodgers

One notable absence from joint practice Thursday morning for the New York Jets wasn't just pass rusher Haason Reddick - whose holdout is about to enter it's third week.

No, instead, it was Aaron Rodgers. The 40-year-old quarterback was seen not working out with the team in joint practice.

The reason? A torrential downpour and joint practice with the Commanders meant that the Jets couldn't control all the variables and it made head coach Robert Saleh pull the plug.

"I just didn't want to expose him to it," Saleh said after practice. "If it was a game, if it was a [regular] practice, if it was clean outside, he would've practiced today. Call it overprotection, but it's just the decision I made."

New York's head coach, of course, is right. In a downpour like Thursday's practice was, the Jets shouldn't have tested Rodgers restructured Achilles for extra reps.

Especially when he's been in the NFL for 20 years.

That doesn't mean the quarterback was pleased with sitting out.

Related: Garrett Wilson Dominates in Jets Impressive Joint Practice Performance

"He pushed back, he pushed back," Saleh explained. "He wanted to go, but in the grand scheme of things, we're trying to keep forward-thinking with regard to Week 1."

Despite his push to play, Rodgers being out of a rain-soaked practice in early August made plenty of sense. It also shows just how smart the organization has been in his overall recovery.