Aaron Rodgers admits he 'can play better' after Jets 'MNF' defeat

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers made his highly anticipated return to the football field on Monday night after not playing for 610 days. However, it didn't go how he or the Jets likely imagined as they fell to the San Francisco 49ers 32-19.

A costly third-down drop by wide receiver Allen Lazard and a fumble by running back Breece Hall highlighted New York's night of miscues.

Rodgers also threw an interception. It came off a tipped ball, but he isn't making any excuses.

"I can play better. I missed a couple of throws. I missed the one to Garrett [Wilson]," Rodgers said via Kevin Patra of NFL.com. "The last drive I was in, the pick. I missed slightly inside on that one. I felt overall I was getting the ball out pretty good. We had some opportunities I'd like back."

Rodgers' 2023 season ended before it started, so many believe New York's rocky start is simply a product of new pieces playing together and a lack of preseason action.

Rodgers disagrees.

"That's an excuse for sure. I'm not going to use that," he added. "I don't think we should. We expect greatness when we step on the field. There were moments that felt really good, but not sustained. We felt like if we could just get a first down, we'd be rolling. We had those three-and-outs, which really hurt us."

The Jets' "Monday Night Football" showing wasn't all bad. Rodgers had the offense clicking on its third series of the game, leading a 12-play, 70-yard touchdown drive.

The 40-year-old also had a vintage movement in the third quarter when he got 49ers edge-rusher Leonard Floyd to jump offside and launched a deep pass to Lazard for a touchdown.

That's why Rodgers is confident New York can quickly right its wrongs and become the true contender it believes it can be this season.

"I think a lot of stuff is correctable, which is great for coaches but frustrating for players," Rodgers concluded. "We know how close we were/are, but there's no time for that. We're going to move on to Tennessee quickly and then we've got a game four days after that. This is a tough opener for us, travel-wise and schedule-wise, but no excuses. We have to play better. I have to play better. We'll bounce back next week."