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 workforce’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 workforce 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 actually might have skipped resulting from both his veteran standing or restoration from a torn Achilles.
Nonetheless, Rodgers has been solid as entitled and even a nasty chief by some within the soccer media house resulting from lacking this week’s practices due to an occasion that’s “essential to him,” in keeping with 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 similar time, it’s unlikely that Rodgers’ time away from the workforce in mid-June — if legitimately that transient — would have a major consequence on the 2024 season, one which can incorporate months of diligent game-planning and follow.
The 23-year-old Gardner hasn’t been shy in expressing assist for Rodgers prior to now.
“When he walks into the room, he’s going to shake the room each time,” Gardner mentioned final September. “He’s a pure chief. Nice man to be round. He modified the group in a whole lot of methods, for certain.”
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 likelihood to see Rodgers on any kind of area after taking part in 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 fee.
The workforce’s offense ranked twenty ninth in factors per recreation and scored greater than 22 factors simply thrice.
Regardless of Rodgers being on the mistaken facet of 40 and having suffered a season-ending harm, the Jets stay assured that the quarterback will appear to be his dynamic previous self, far more the a part of a four-time MVP winner that may elevate an offense caught in impartial.
The Jets will likely be away from the follow area till July 24, when coaching camp begins.
Till then, the NFL panorama will stay engrossed in Rodgers’ actions — each on and off the sector.
