- NFL. Jets' internal struggles revealed: Woody Johnson considered benching Aaron Rodgers in September
- NFL. Aaron Rodgers could follow Brett Favre's path to the Vikings
In a bombshell report released on Tuesday night, it was revealed that New York Jets owner Woody Johnson allegedly wanted then-head coach Robert Saleh to bench quarterback Aaron Rodgers in favor of backup Tyrod Taylor after the team's 2-2 start with a tough loss to the Denver Broncos.
During Wednesday's WFAN morning show, former Jets quarterback and current NFL analyst Boomer Esiason shared his theory about Rodgers' struggles on the field this season. "I'm telling you right now, he's injured. He's 100 percent injured," Esiason said, after reviewing game film from New York's recent loss to the Indianapolis Colts.
"I want to say it's his left leg, and I wouldn't be surprised if it was a hamstring. You can just tell by the way everything is coming off his back foot. It looks like he's trying to protect his left leg. I'm sure we're gonna hear about it eventually."
It's no secret that Rodgers has been dealing with injuries this season, including to both his knees, a low ankle sprain, and a hamstring issue, all coming off the torn Achilles he suffered in September 2023. Despite tossing 17 touchdown es with seven interceptions over the first 11 games of the ongoing campaign, the Jets have struggled, ranking 26th in the NFL in scoring and total offense. According to Pro Football Reference, Rodgers is 27th among qualified players with a 50.8 QBR.
Woody Johnson wanted to bench Rodgers
"I know he's always been a different kind of guy when he's throwing," Esiason added about Rodgers, "and that he does throw off his back foot quite a bit, but I don't see him putting a lot of pressure on that front leg."
Following the firing of general manager Joe Douglas on Tuesday, it was reported that Johnson "does prefer a change at quarterback" after this season. NFL reporter Ralph Vacchiano of Fox Sports mentioned in an article that "one source familiar with the situation" confirmed this sentiment.
The report sheds light on the internal dynamics of the Jets organization and the challenges faced by Rodgers on the field. It's clear that injuries have been impacting his performance, and there is growing speculation about potential changes within the team. As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see how these developments unfold and how they will impact the Jets and Rodgers moving forward.