New York Jets star Aaron Rodgers believes sitting on the bench will help Zach Wilson reset his NFL career. Wilson, who has appeared in 22 games with the Jets after being drafted second overall in 2021, has thrown more interceptions (18) than touchdowns (15) in his brief NFL career thus far.
“I hope this time for him is like a deep inhale and exhale and he can really take a breath and pause and deal with the disappointment of last year and the frustration and then channel it,” Rodgers said, via Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. “I feel like he has, just re-channel it as a positive and focus on the opportunity in front of him to learn with a guy who loves him and cares about him and wants him to be great and wants him to do incredible things every day and be better.”
The Jets acquired Rodgers from the Green Bay Packers in a blockbuster NFL trade in April. Wilson will get to watch and learn from one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history and stay out of the limelight. The youngster finished last season with seven interceptions and six touchdowns in nine games.
NFL NEWS & RUMORS: Aaron Rodgers & New York Jets Updates
“He has played really, really well in camp,” Rodgers told NFL reporters about Wilson. “He’s made a number of great throws. He looks confident. His fundamentals are improving. He’s throwing the ball on time. He’s got all the intangibles. . . . I think he’ll look back years from now and be really thankful for this time to grow, to reset, to take a breath, and it’s gonna set him up for a nice long career in the league.”
Rodgers spent the early part of his NFL career on the bench behind Hall of Famer Brett Favre. It will be interesting to track the relationship between Wilson and Rodgers, who threw for 3,695 yards and 26 touchdowns last season while completing 64.6% of his passes for the Packers. The Jets, who went 7-10 in 2022, believe they can win the Super Bowl this season with Rodgers under center.
NFL NEWS & RUMORS: Aaron Rodgers, Zach Wilson & New York Jets Updates
The 39-year-old Rodgers may play another three years in the NFL after taking a historic $35 million pay cut in a newly restructured contract with the Jets. The four-time MVP reworked his contract to a three-year, $112.5 million deal that includes $75 million in fully guaranteed money for 2023 and 2024.
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