New York Jets QB Aaron Rodgers has a ‘pretty low’ level of concern with the offensive lines struggles this preseason
New York Jets QB Aaron Rodgers is ‘fairly little’ concerned about offensive lines struggling this preseason
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers told reporters he was not yet concerned about the team’s preseason struggles on the offensive line and that his concern was, in fact, “quite low.”
Aside from receiving six sacks and countless pressures during Wednesday’s joint practice with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Jets are also dealing with multiple injuries to projected starters along the o-line.
Both starting guards Laken Tomlinson and Alijah Vera-Tucker are currently battling injuries and Duane Brown is still on the physical disability list as he recovers from a shoulder injury.
“It’s August 16, so we still have some time,” Rodgers said. “It’s coming too.”
He also said he was happy with the makeshift offensive line from a physical point of view, but said they “missed some really easy stuff.”
Aaron Rodgers said he was “quite little” concerned about the offensive line struggle
New York’s offensive line looked leaky in training camp due to several lingering situations
Head coach Robert Saleh called out the offensive line on Hard Knocks this week
In addition to dealing with injuries, the Jets appear to have several side stories aside from getting the line going.
There’s a fight in the middle between veteran Connor McGovern and rookie Joe Tippmann, a position fight at right tackle between Max Mitchell and Billy Turner, along with the first round of 2020, Mekhi Becton’s journey back to full health after two separate surgeries on his right knee.
“I’m not worried about things that I don’t have a major role in yet,” Rodgers also told reporters.
‘That could change. At some point I might say, “Hey, I need the five that’s going to be there to be there with me for a whole week,” but I don’t think we’re at that point…because I don’t think that there are five guys who have earned those spots. So I’ll have a little patience.’
While Rodgers may preach patience and calmness when it comes to the line, his head coach Robert Saleh appears to be taking a much more aggressive approach.
This week’s episode of HBO’s Hard Knocks saw Saleh call the offensive line for a poor performance against the Carolina Panthers during last week’s joint practice.
“Offense, it was our first damn chance to change the stench that has been in this organization for a long time on the offensive side of the ball,” said Saleh.
“You can have a Hall of Fame quarterback. You can have two recipients over $10 million. You can have a reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year.”
“You can have all kinds of skills in the running back room. None of it fucking matters until the big guys up front change who the hell we are.”
Rodgers isn’t the only New York player who will rely on the offensive line to get things in order in hopes of a big season, as the team officially finalized the signing of free agent running back Dalvin Cook today.