Aaron Rodgers records first Jets touchdown against Giants as the QB throws to Garrett Wilson in opening quarter of preseason game

Aaron Rodgers wasted no time Saturday night getting off the track for the New York Jets.

Just seven minutes into his Jets preseason debut against the Giants, Rodgers got going with his new team by throwing to wide receiver Garrett Wilson for his first-ever Gang Green touchdown.

It was a perfect pass from the four-time NFL MVP, who ended his 18-year stint with the Green Bay Packers to seal an off-season blockbuster trade to New York.

He will replace Zach Wilson at quarterback in 2023, who dropped to third in the depth chart in 2022 after two disappointing seasons.

Despite his problems, team officials have remained steadfast in their plan to keep him in the building so he can develop under Rodgers.

Rodgers singled out wide receiver Garrett Wilson in the first quarter of his Jets debut

Wilson grabbed the catch to ensure the four-time NFL MVP got off to a flying start in New York

In his first preseason appearance since 2018, Rodgers played two drives, completing five of eight passes for 47 yards with a touchdown before being replaced by Wilson.

The Jets then won as the visiting team at MetLife Stadium in this game between New York clubs.

Rodgers is widely regarded as one of the greatest NFL quarterbacks of the modern era after inspiring the Packers’ final Super Bowl triumph in 2010, becoming only the fifth player in history to win the MVP award in consecutive seasons.

The 39-year-old is second on the NFL’s all-time regular season passer ranking with a rating of over 100, while also having the best passer rating, touchdown-to-interception ratio and pass interception percentage all-time . 2010s.

In the first episode of “One Jets Drive,” the team’s series that takes a look at their training camp, Rodgers gave a motivational speech to his new teammates ahead of the new season.

“Hey, we have one goal and that is to win a championship this year, so everything we do from this point until February is intentional,” he said.

Rodgers later recalled, “The past few months have certainly been a whirlwind. After I indicated I wanted to play for the Jets, there was a long wait, so I was just training, hanging out and waiting for things to happen. And once it happened, it happened quickly.’

Some eyebrows were raised at Jets coach Robert Saleh’s decision to start Rodgers in the preseason against the Giants, given his age and the possibility of injury. He had not played in a preseason game since 2018.

But Saleh replied, “You can’t coach scared, you can’t play scared.

Rodgers played in his first preseason game since 2018, but was eliminated after two drives

“You can slip out of your car and something will happen to you, but if you knock on wood, everything will be fine.

“You know you see some of the greats there. Kansas City plays against their boys, Buffalo against their boys, that’s not uncommon.

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