Rodgers and Jets’ starters could play a few series vs. Giants

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers might see more than just a few snaps in his New York Jets pre-season debut against the Giants on Saturday night.

The four-time NFL MVP will play in an exhibition game for the first time since 2018, when he was with the Green Bay Packers. It will be a final tuneup for Rodgers and the Jets’ starters before the regular-season opener at home on Sept. 11 against the Buffalo Bills.

Rodgers, acquired from the Packers in April, has said he’d be open to playing some snaps in the pre-season with the Jets. Coach Robert Saleh would like to see Rodgers and the starters on offence play in more than just one drive.

“We’ll see how it goes,” Saleh said. “I don’t want to just throw him out there for a series and get him out. Would like to see those guys go through transition, get to the sideline, have some adjustments, get back to the field, play with those adjustments. So you’d like to see that transition happen a few times.”

Saleh said he and Rodgers had conversations before deciding the 39-year-old quarterback would play.

“Ultimately, he’ll have his thoughts, too, but for us as an organization, he’s new,” Saleh said. “I know he’s been in the league a very long time, but I just didn’t want Sept. 11 to be the first time he stepped into MetLife Stadium. The Giants and Jets game, whether it’s pre-season or the regular season, there’s going to be good turnouts and there’s going to be a lot of anticipation and excitement in the building.

“Just didn’t want the first time he goes out with his new team, new colours, new teammates, new stadium — didn’t want Sept. 11 to be the first time.”

Rodgers has remained on the sideline during the Jets’ first three pre-season games while Zach Wilson has started, including New York’s 13-6 loss to Tampa Bay last Saturday night at MetLife Stadium.

The decision to play Rodgers before the regular season has caused anxiety for some Jets fans, not wanting to see their quarterback get injured — especially with many having Super Bowl aspirations.

“You can’t coach scared, you can’t play scared,” Saleh said. “You can slip out of your car and have something happen to you. We’ll be — knock on wood — fine. You see the great ones out there. Kansas City’s playing their guys, Buffalo’s playing their guys — it’s not uncommon.

“You can always play the hindsight game or the fearful game, but what’s in the best interest for our team is to go out there and play some football together and prepare us the best way we can for Sept. 11.”

BECTON’S ALL RIGHT

Saleh said Mekhi Becton would start at right tackle against the Giants after he played 25 snaps there against the Buccaneers and performed well in his NFL debut at the position.

Becton, who has missed almost all of the past two seasons with knee injuries, has been a left tackle to start his career but Duane Brown is the expected starter there. After the Jets used a few players on the right side during training camp, Becton — healthy again, slimmer after dropping 30 pounds and confident in his surgically repaired knee — practised last week there and played with the backups.

“He did a really nice job in the game,” Saleh said. “He took over half the snaps, he looks like he’s in much better shape, obviously, so we’re giving him a run at right tackle. We’ll see how he does.”