Rodgers shows for offseason program
The Jets are all-in on Aaron Rodgers, and Rodgers showed Monday that he is returning the favor.
Rodgers reported to the facility for the first day of the voluntary offseason program, as revealed by the Jets’ social-media accounts. The first two weeks of the program are limited to strength and conditioning workouts and meetings under NFL rules.
The 40-year-old quarterback is coming off the shortest season of his career — playing just four snaps before suffering a torn Achilles in his left leg.
Rodgers was recently training with members of the USC football team, as seen in photos exclusively obtained Saturday by The Post.
It is a small show of commitment by Rodgers, especially considering many quarterbacks of his pedigree skip the voluntary offseason program. He skipped parts late in his 18-year career with the Packers.
A year ago, Rodgers was a full participant, but he was meeting new teammates and establishing his leadership presence after a trade from the Packers. He also was due a $50,000 workout bonus then that is not part of his contract for 2024, according to spotrac.com.
Rodgers and the rest of the players could be at the facility for a maximum of four hours per day beginning Monday, with a 90-minute cap of on-field time and two hours at players’ discretion for weight lifting. Quarterbacks can throw to receivers with no coverage, and only strength and conditioning coaches are allowed on the field.
When Phase 2 of the voluntary program begins April 29, coaches can be on the field and individual drills are allowed. The Jets will host their first of 10 OTAs on May 20 and Rodgers is expected to attend, head coach Robert Saleh said recently.
It is now or never for the Jets, who are expecting a healthy Rodgers to play behind an offensive line fortified by the offseason additions of John Simpson, Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses, and throw to an upgraded cast of weapons that is headlined by receiver Mike Williams and could include tight Brock Bowers if that’s the direction that they go April 26 in the first round of the draft. Bowers visited the Jets’ facility Monday, according to an NFL Network report.