Sauce Gardner doesn’t need to hear the criticism of his quarterback.
Though the Jets and their beleaguered followers are anxious about Rodgers lacking the staff’s necessary minicamp from June 11-13, Gardner is attempting to set the file straight in regards to the 40-year-old.
“Are y’all actually making an enormous deal as a result of a 15+ 12 months HOF QB missed 2 days of follow after being with the staff all all through Section 1, 2, & 3 of OTA’s?? GG’s,” Gardner posted on X on Wednesday night time.
To Gardner’s level, Rodgers was current throughout Jets OTAs held in late Could and early June, a interval of exercise he definitely might have skipped on account of both his veteran standing or restoration from a torn Achilles.
Nonetheless, Rodgers has been solid as entitled and even a foul chief by some within the soccer media house on account of lacking this week’s practices due to an occasion that’s “vital to him,” in response to Jets head coach Robert Saleh.
The flame of hypothesis solely rose after former 13-year NFL quarterback Chase Daniel commented that Rodgers’ absence was “costly.”
On the identical time, it’s unlikely that Rodgers’ time away from the staff in mid-June — if legitimately that transient — would have a big consequence on the 2024 season, one which is able to incorporate months of diligent game-planning and follow.
The 23-year-old Gardner hasn’t been shy in expressing assist for Rodgers up to now.
“When he walks into the room, he’s going to shake the room each time,” Gardner stated final September. “He’s a pure chief. Nice man to be round. He modified the group in lots of methods, for positive.”
Rodgers isn’t the one high-profile Jet that was away from Florham Park this week, both.
Newly acquired edge rusher Haason Reddick additionally skipped minicamp due to a lingering contract dispute, however Reddick defended himself on X, referring to narratives about him as “foolery.”
Understandably, Jets followers are as ravenous as ever for each probability to see Rodgers on any kind of discipline after enjoying simply 4 snaps earlier than rupturing his Achilles to start out the 2023 season.
With out Rodgers, the Jets completed 7-10 for the second straight season regardless of a protection that ranked third in anticipated factors added (EPA) per play.
In lieu of No. 8, Jets quarterbacks Zach Wilson, Trevor Siemian and Tim Boyle completed with a mixed statline of three,355 passing yards, 11 touchdowns and 15 interceptions on a depressing 59.4 % completion price.
The staff’s offense ranked twenty ninth in factors per recreation and scored greater than 22 factors simply 3 times.
Regardless of Rodgers being on the unsuitable aspect of 40 and having suffered a season-ending harm, the Jets stay assured that the quarterback will appear to be his dynamic previous self, rather more the a part of a four-time MVP winner that may elevate an offense caught in impartial.
The Jets might be away from the follow discipline till July 24, when coaching camp begins.
Till then, the NFL panorama will stay engrossed in Rodgers’ actions — each on and off the sector.
