Jets rookie has pondered someday replacing star QB Aaron Rodgers

For now, though, Jordan Travis focusing on health.

By Dennis Waszak Jr.

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Jordan Travis still needs some time to recover from the horrific leg injury that ended his senior season at Florida State early.

Patience is something Travis has perfected, especially in the past few months.

Travis, who was taken by the New York Jets in the fifth round of the recent NFL draft, will spend his rookie season on a team with Aaron Rodgers as its starting quarterback. And he has considered the possibility he could someday end up replacing the fourtime NFL MVP.

“I do think about that a lot,” Travis said Saturday after the Jets’ second day of rookie minicamp. “But right now, I’m just focused where my feet are, just getting healthy, getting everybody around me better, being a great teammate.”

Things were shaping up to be a dream season for Travis and the Seminoles — until Nov. 18, 2023.

Florida State was playing North Alabama when Travis scrambled and was fighting for extra yards on a run. His left leg rolled under a defender, twisting his ankle awkwardly.

His leg was put in an air cast and he was carted off the field, his fractured left leg/ankle ending his season and his college career. Travis had led the Seminoles to an 11-0 record and they won the next week without him, along with the ACC Championship Game. Florida State finished 13-0 — but were the first undefeated Power Five team not to make the playoff. Instead, the Seminoles went to the Orange Bowl,

where they were crushed 63-3 by Georgia.

Travis, who was a firstteam All-ACC selection in 2023, had his walking boot come off a week before the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis in February. It was a significant step toward recovery, but the injury still clouded his path to the pros. He had a serious injury that would keep him off the field a while, regardless of when — or if — he was drafted.

Travis didn’t fear his playing career would be over.

“Never,” he said. “I mean, I love adversity. I love waking up every single day and having to make a choice. It just makes the story a whole lot cooler. I’ve always said that, from the day I broke my leg until now.

“I love it, man. So, no, there’s never been a doubt in my mind.”

Travis, who has leaned on his family and faith, broke down when he got the call from the Jets that they had selected him in the fifth round — pick No. 171 overall.

It was an emotional release

from all the long days and nights of working his body back to health.

“I mean, it’s a dream come true at the end of the day,” Travis said. “It’s an opportunity for me to get better. That’s what I look at every single thing as. God has a plan for me.”

Travis worked in the trainer’s area during part of the Jets’ rookie minicamp practices. He joked that he tried to get into the stretch line before one of the sessions before the Jets pulled him out.

“I’m trying to get out there,” he said with a big smile.

Travis joined the Jets’ five other rookie quarterbacks — including Darren Grainger from Georgia State — on the field during some drills and pretended to throw passes. He’ll get there at some point.

“I’m just thankful to have a ball in my hand again and have a helmet on my head,” Travis said.

With the Jets, there’s no rush for Travis to play. He’s expected to sit behind Rodgers and Tyrod Taylor this

season, soaking in as much as he can from the veteran quarterbacks.

“He’s a tremendous athlete,” coach Robert Saleh said. “We feel like he’s kind of a ball of clay.”

Saleh said the team will continue to monitor Travis during his rehabilitation, which is expected to continue through the voluntary workouts, organized team activities and mandatory minicamp. The hope, though, is the rookie will be ready to go by the start of training camp in July.

“He hasn’t even scratched the surface,” Saleh said. “He was winning games, doing things that were just pure athleticism. If we could tie in the football part to it, I think we’ve got ourselves a pretty damn good football player.”

Travis has no doubts that is what he’ll become. He has come too far not to achieve his ultimate goal — to become a starting quarterback in the NFL.

“Yes, sir,” Travis said. “100 percent.”

ADAM HUNGER/AP Jordan Travis, who was able to complete some drills Saturday during a rookie minicamp, suffered severe leg and ankle injuries near the end of the 2023 season.