Aaron Rodgers' 2023 season ended after four snaps. The New York Jets' season essentially did, too. The 40-year-old star quarterback is feeling confident ahead of the 2024 season opener, going as far as to crack a joke about last year's Achilles injury during his game-week press conference Thursday. "There might be a little smirk after the fourth (snap)," Rodgers said with a smile. The Jets acquired Rodgers from the Green Bay Packers during the summer of 2023, believing that they were one great quarterback away from Super Bowl contention. Once Rodgers went down, they suffered through another ineffective campaign by Zach Wilson and contributions from third- and fourth-string QB options. Rodgers' task is to help the woebegone franchise end the longest playoff drought in not only the NFL, but the four major North American sports leagues. The Jets' last playoff game was the 2010 AFC Championship game in January 2011; the NHL's Buffalo Sabres are tied with the Jets at 13 seasons but played a playoff series in April 2011. "We can't ride these waves of emotion or frustration or outside narratives or any of these things," Rodgers said Thursday. "We've got to keep this thing very tight. We can't have any leaks or people jumping ship. We got to realize it's going to be a long season." Rodgers, often a controversial figure away from the field, was fined by the Jets for skipping mandatory minicamp in favor of a trip to Egypt. Since then, the Jets have said the four-time league MVP has been all about football. "I think he's in a great place," New York coach Robert Saleh said. "Not just mentally, but physically he looks awesome. ... He's a professional. He's done it a long time. He's not a 40-year-old quarterback, so I think he's just fine." The Jets will open the season on "Monday Night Football" for the second year in a row. Rodgers' injury came on the opening series against the Buffalo Bills last September; this year, the Jets will travel west to face the San Francisco 49ers. Rodgers hails from the Northern California region, specifically the nearby town of Chico. Rodgers may not have played a full NFL game since the end of the 2022 regular season with Green Bay, but he said the standard he holds himself to hasn't changed. "I have a lot of pride in my performance, so when I take the field, I expect greatness because I've done it before," Rodgers said. "...I'm in a good mind space. (I) really had a year to remember in a lot of ways -- some really difficult things, with some great things as well. So, there's always a perspective moment during the (national anthem) to collect your thoughts and kind of send gratitude out to the universe for the opportunity for me (to) stand on the field and pads. I'll be really excited about that." --Field Level Media
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