Upon returning to the field, Aaron Rodgers could not find a consistent offensive rhythm in his first full game as quarterback for the New York Jets, falling 32-19 to the San Francisco 49ers.
Rodgers’ first pass of the season was dropped by Allen Lazard, with the 40-year-old four-time NFL MVP later connecting with his old Green Bay Packers teammate for a 36-yard score, marking his first touchdown pass in New York.
Rodgers didn’t appear uncertain early on, despite playing four offensive snaps in his first season with the Jets last year before tearing his Achilles tendon.
Oddly enough, the Buffalo Bill who tackled Rodgers on that play, Leonard Floyd, now plays for the 49ers and tried to get him back on the field. He managed to tackle the Jets’ leader in the second quarter.
Rodgers finished the game with 13 completions on 21 attempts for 167 yards. He also had one touchdown and an interception.
Aaron Rodgers was unsuccessful in his return to the New York Jets, losing to the San Francisco 49ers
Ricky Pearsall reunited with the two rescuers who saved his life last month
San Francisco 49ers star running back Christian McCaffrey is inactive tonight against the Jets
Rodgers completed his first pass with the Jets to start his second drive with a shovel pass to Hall. But Fred Warner knocked the ball out and Maliek Collins recovered the fumble. The play was Rodgers’ fourth snap of the season for New York.
Rodgers got the Jets moving on the ensuing drive, converting three third-down passes to Garrett Wilson into Hall’s 3-yard TD run. Rodgers went 6-for-7 for 61 yards on the drive.
Rodgers, 40, spent his first 18 seasons with the Green Bay Packers, where he won four MVPs and one Super Bowl. He was traded before the 2023 season to the Jets, who have been starved for quarterbacks and searching for a franchise QB since Joe Namath left nearly a half-century ago.
San Francisco running back Christian McCaffrey sat out the game due to a calf injury, with Jordan Mason taking over the backfield duties for the 49ers.
McCaffrey is considered one of the best running backs in the NFL, if not the best, and his absence appears to have changed the game plan for both teams.
However, Mason tore up the Jets defense, completing 28 carries for 147 yards and a touchdown.
Jordan Mason crushed the Jets defense with over 100 yards rushing in place of McCaffrey
Rodgers will have to wait at least another week for his first win as a New York Jets player
49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall stood on the sideline during the game and was reunited with the first responders who helped save his life after he was shot during a robbery last month.
Pearsall was joined on the field by Sgt. Joelle Harrell and Dr. Lucy Kornblith, who presented them with a signed jersey midway through the first quarter.
Pearsall was wearing normal clothing and showed no visible injuries as a result of the shooting nine days after the shooting.
The rookie draft pick in the first round suffered a gunshot wound to the chest during the fight and is in serious but stable condition.
Pearsall was reportedly attacked over his Rolex watch. The 23-year-old Arizona native was just a week away from his first NFL game, though his status for tonight’s game has already been clouded by a shoulder injury.
Rodgers’ appearance came on the same day the first trailer for his Netflix documentary “Aaron Rodgers: Enigma” was released.