Aaron Rodgers handed Jets lifeline after being told brutal 2-6 reality

Aaron Rodgers' future at the New York Jets is reportedly at risk if his team slumps to another defeat this weekend - but a favorable matchup against the New England Patriots could help change the tide in 2024.

The Jets are 2-5 and have had very little to shout about since Rodgers , 40, returned from his 2023 season-ending Achilles injury. They've lost their last four games since beating this weekend's opponents, the Patriots, 20-3 on Sept. 20.

Former Green Bay Packers wide receiver James Jones, who teamed with Rodgers and the Jets' latest receiver addition, Davante Adams, believes a defeat to the Patriots on Sunday could ice the franchise's campaign after having high hopes that the legendary quarterback could fire them to the postseason for the first time since 2010.

"There’s a bunch of questions that are going to happen. Should we keep Aaron Rodgers next year? What are we going to do with Davante Adams? Should we sign Garrett Wilson? Obviously, who is going to be the next head coach?" Jones said on FOX Sports' The Facility.

• Aaron Rodgers instructs New York Jets on what to do if they want to salvage season
• Philadelphia Union goalkeeper Holden Trent tragically dies at the age of 25 as MLS leads tributes

A defeat to New England would push the Jets' 2024 record to 2-6, and it would be incredibly difficult to make the playoffs. The Buffalo Bills currently lead the AFC East, and a Wild Card spot could be attained but with a respectable record.

"There’s going to be so many questions in New York if they lose this game and you fall to 2 – 6. I’m not going to lie, those are my brothers, we Face Timed them and all on the show, those are my brothers," Jones continued. "If you go to 2 – 6 that’s a wrap.

"I don’t care about no 2% chance or none of that, it’s a wrap. Now, as you're taking the field, how can I stay healthy so I can get to Cabo and chill with the girly or wife, whatever, because it’s over. You're not going to the playoffs. There's too many solid teams in the AFC that you ain't going to be able to climb back up the hill.”

Rodgers has taken personal responsibility for the Jets' slow start on offense this season, with the team's defense often keeping them in tight games - the most recent being the clash in London with the Minnesota Vikings where a Rodgers interception late on in the fourth quarter scuppered any chance of completing a comeback.

"Sometimes it just takes that one thing to happen, it could be a speech before a game, after a game, something during the week that just clicks, and the energy of that click can be contagious," a motivated Rodgers said ahead of this weekend.

"What you do is you try and set up a lot of different things that are part of the structure and the foundation of a winning culture, but until each of those things clicks in, you're fighting against some of the ghosts of years past, and it's in every organization, it's in every season."