FLORHAM PARK, NJ — Aaron Rodgers‘start complaining as a member of New York Jets it happened on Tuesday – a slight calf strain prevented him from performing. After all, the quarterback is doing well for his new team.
“It’s been a dream month so far,” said Rodgers, who is sold by the company Green Bay Packers on April 24.
Rodgers, who has been participating in voluntary workouts — something he hasn’t done in recent years with the Packers — said there is no doubt in his mind that he made the right decision by continuing his career and choosing to play for the Jets. .
Every day, he said, is proof of that.
“Every day I wake up and I’m excited to come to this place,” Rodgers said after practice, speaking to reporters for the first time since his first meeting on April 26. “Now the two-minute walk helps a lot. It’s better to go to the factory.
“I’m excited to go down on Jets Drive. It was surreal, of course, it’s strange to look at my locker and see No. 8. Rocking Jets gear is a little weird, of course, but every day there’s a little bit of a special sign or connection or a good moment that reminds me that I’m in the right place.”
He said he loved New Jersey. Before starting the business, he connected the government with the old TV show “Jersey Shore.” It has since been confirmed that the show is “not a proper representation of this great country.”
Rodgers, 39, drew plenty of media attention during the open practice session — the team’s second OTA session. He did not participate in any experiments. Rodgers said he “tweaked” his right calf during practice and decided to just practice. “A day of war,” he called it.
“I don’t think it’s too difficult,” he added.
The injury appears to have occurred while jumping with a small medicine ball – one of the exercises he does to warm up before practice. Rodgers did not confirm this, only saying it happened while he was running. He also said that this is the first time in his 19-year career that he has been so hot.
“Obviously, there’s science behind it,” he said.
Rodgers remained on the field throughout practice, suggesting it was not a serious injury. He moved slowly from drill to drill, giving occasional pointers to passers-by and passers-by. He wasn’t wearing gloves on an injured calf during his post-graduation press conference.
“He’s the goat,” the tight end CJ Uzomah he said. “It’s good to have that presence, for sure.”
In a departure from recent practice, Rodgers said he decided to go to practice to help coordinator Nathaniel Hackett set up the offense and to bond with his new teammates.
“When you run an offense for a long time, the breaks are for the young players,” Rodgers said, referring to his Green Bay days. “But it’s a new mistake, being my first year here, I wanted to have some things to start with, to let them know how I like to do things, some code words, a little change, different ways. I see the game, it’s starting a conversation.”
Rodgers said the “worst thing” in the meeting is when the coach does all the talking, without interacting with the players. He said he wanted to be there to help create a nonsensical discussion.
“Meetings are where we feel his presence the most,” Uzomah said.
Coach Robert Saleh said Rodgers is “still a kid in an old man’s body. He’s doing great.” In the corner DJ Reed said Rodgers himself, raising the energy in the building. Reed remembered their first meeting.
“When I saw him, I was like, ‘Dang, that’s really AR. He’s really a Jet,'” Reed said. “It was kind of surreal. It’s a crazy feeling, knowing that we’re going to have a Hall of Fame quarterback playing for us this year. It’s pretty cool.”
One of Rodgers’ defenders, tackle Mekhi Becton, caused an uproar on Sunday with critical comments about the coaching staff. In Newsday interviewBecton blamed the coaches for the knee injury last August, saying the right-handed move added stress to his right knee, which has already been repaired and is the second injury to require surgery.
Saying he didn’t want to point fingers, Saleh took the high road, praising Becton for an “unbelievable” season. The weight is under 350, a drop of 50-plus pounds.
“He’s in a great place,” Saleh said, “and I want to keep him there.”