Aaron Rodgers backup likely won't play much in Jets' preseason opener

Aaron Rodgers won't be the only New York Jets veteran quarterback spending most, if not all, of the team's preseason games on the sideline.

In an attempt to presumably protect the veteran insurance policy, primary backup Tyrod Taylor may not have to take many live game reps this summer.

"We'll see. We're going to talk about it more about his involvement, but it's something that we’ll be judicious with," said fourth-year head coach Robert Saleh when asked about the preseason plan for Taylor with the opener scheduled for Saturday against the Washington Commanders .

The 35-year-old Taylor, who signed with the Jets this past March, has a recent injury history that likely nudges the coaching staff to err on the side of caution. While facing Gang Green as a member of the New York Giants in 2023, Taylor sustained a rib injury that landed the dual threat quarterback on Injured Reserve. In 2020, Taylor, who was preparing to start for the Los Angeles Chargers at the time, suffered a punctured lung during pregame when a team doctor accidentally injured the field general while administering an injection.

Taylor, who won a Super Bowl as a rookie backup for the Baltimore Ravens , owns a career .500 win percentage as a starter. He has passed for 12,135 career yards and 65 touchdowns while being intercepted 29 times. Nicknamed T-Mobile earlier in his NFL tenure, Taylor has 19 rushing touchdowns to his credit.

Meanwhile, the 40-year-old Rodgers has already been ruled out of the first two preseason games by Saleh. The team has seemingly kept open the possibility of giving the four-time NFL MVP a possession or two in the finale on August 24.

Jets fans should prepare to see a heavy dose of undrafted rookie Andrew Peasley and UFL MVP Adrian Martinez taking the snaps against the Commanders.

Peasley, who started two seasons for Wyoming after transferring from Utah State, has been with the Green & White since May 6 after participating in rookie minicamp on a tryout basis.

Martinez joined the Jets on July 27, adding an extra arm to the mix as the team placed fifth-round rookie Jordan Travis on the Non-Football Injury list . Having spent the 2023 preseason with the Detroit Lions , the 24-year-old is back in an NFL training camp only six weeks after leading the Birmingham Stallions to the UFL championship.

The Jets and Commanders, who are also participating in a joint practice , will kick off their preseason schedule at 1 pm ET on August 10 in East Rutherford, NJ.

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