Insider shares how Jets' Aaron Rodgers reacted to minicamp absences being unexcused

NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated mentioned last week that the New York Jets didn't excuse quarterback Aaron Rodgers from attending the club's two-day mandatory minicamp because "they could not excuse and maintain credibility with the rest of the locker room."

Breer shared Rodgers' feelings on the subject for a piece published Monday.

"I did a little more digging over the past few days," Breer explained. "What more I could ascertain was how the Jets and Rodgers reached an understanding of the 'one team, one set of rules' logic to not excusing his leave. Rodgers, I’m told, was good with it."

Rodgers was a regular at voluntary workouts throughout the spring but reportedly enjoyed "a vacation overseas" last week that individuals such as Jets head coach Robert Saleh knew about before the club revealed the dates for mandatory minicamp.

Analysts such as Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk previously questioned why the Jets didn't simply schedule their minicamp for the first full week of June so Rodgers could participate.

"And while, yes, the Jets could’ve moved minicamp up a week, the staff didn’t want to do that because generally having a mandatory minicamp a week before the end of the offseason program essentially green-lights everyone taking the last week of voluntary work off," Breer added in Monday's article. "Which might mean more guys who need the work a lot more than Rodgers does cutting a week off their offseason programs, which would be worse than one guy missing, even if that one guy is Rodgers, because Rodgers wouldn’t be there that week anyway."

Saleh, along with New York cornerbacks D.J. Reed and Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner , were among the noteworthy members of the Jets who defended Rodgers last week. Saleh spoke with Breer and insisted that Rodgers has been "a phenomenal teammate" since joining the Jets via a trade from the Green Bay Packers in April 2023.

"Him being here and attacking the offseason and doing everything that we’ve asked has been fantastic," Saleh said about the 40-year-old who is working to return to full fitness after he suffered a torn Achilles this past September. "He’s a great teammate, and we’re appreciative of him."

Takes about Rodgers skipping minicamp and about how Saleh publicly addressed the situation last week generated headlines during this quiet portion of the NFL calendar.

It ultimately won't impact how the future Hall of Famer plays assuming he's cleared to start New York's regular-season opener at the San Francisco 49ers on Sept. 9.

On Monday, ESPN's Rich Cimini noted that "the Jets are willing to roll with" Rodgers despite any distractions he may cause "because he's the key to everything."

Thus far, that key has unlocked little more for the Jets than four meaningful offensive snaps.