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Jets fans won’t have to wait until the regular season to see quarterback Aaron Rodgers make his debut.
The four-time MVP will make his first start as a Jet in Saturday’s preseason finale against the Giants, according to a source.
The game is actually a Giants home game, so Rodgers’ first start as a Jet at MetLife Stadium will technically be a road game.
Rodgers has sat out the first three preseason games and the Jets have started Zach Wilson.
Now, Rodgers will take the field for the first time as a Jet in what should be a good atmosphere for a preseason game.
Rodgers will get the chance to go through his pregame routine, get used to the stadium and get rid of any butterflies before the Jets open the regular season against the Bills at MetLife on Sept. 11.
The Jets traded for Rodgers in April and he has been everything they could have hoped for since arriving from the Packers.
Rodgers has looked great in practice and has embraced being a mentor to the young Jets players.
He has not missed any training camp practices.
Jets coach Robert Saleh had left the door open for Rodgers to play in this final preseason game.
After Saturday night’s game with the Buccaneers, Saleh said he would talk to Rodgers about the possibility of playing against the Giants and get his input.
Rodgers said earlier in camp he “wouldn’t mind playing in the preseason.” Rodgers last played in a preseason game in 2018.
“I wouldn’t mind if Robert said, ‘Hey, we are going to go. Let’s do it.’’’ Rodger said early in camp. “Most coaches have that fear where they want to get you to the Week 1 and not risk it, but I believe there is a chance for the last one.”
Rodgers last played in the preseason in Week 2 of 2018 against the Steelers.
He played just five snaps, completing 2-for-4 passing for 35 yards and a touchdown.
He has watched from the sideline during preseason since.
With Rodgers on the field, you can assume the Jets will have their other healthy starters in the lineup against the Giants.
Wide receiver Garrett Wilson has not played in a preseason game yet, but he should be on the field with his new quarterback.
Running backs Breece Hall and Dalvin Cook have not played at all in the preseason and still may be held out of this one.
Hall returned to practice last week.
It was his first action since ACL surgery last October.
He only played in a five team reps last week.
The Jets plan to ramp up his workload this week to prepare him for Week 1, but asking him to play a preseason game already may be too much.
Cook has not practiced with the Jets since signing last week.
He went home this weekend to attend the birth of his child but is expected to start practicing this week.
He probably needs more work before appearing in a game, though. Cook is also coming off a February shoulder surgery.
It is unclear how much Rodgers and the other starters will play.
If they put together a strong first series, Saleh could pull them.
If they struggle, he may want to see them play a quarter.
The Jets also need to hope that they can put a strong offensive line in front of Rodgers this week.
They were without guards Laken Tomlinson (leg) and Alijah Vera-Tucker (ankle) against the Buccaneers on Saturday, but Saleh has seemed optimistic about them returning soon.
Left tackle Duane Brown could come off the physically unable to perform list this week, but he likely would need more than a few days’ practice time before playing in a game.
Brown had shoulder surgery in the offseason.
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