Jets reunite Davante Adams with Aaron Rodgers in colossal — and per chance final accessible — swing at salvaging this season – Yahoo
As one more winnable sport slipped out of his hands, Aaron Rodgers sat pensively on the New York Jets’ bench Monday night time making an strive admire he turned into taking into consideration existence.
It didn’t seem he loved what he observed.
His Jets had been about to be losers one more time — 23-20 to Buffalo — and thus fall to 2-4 on the season. That they had already fired the coach, Robert Saleh. That they had already changed play-callers. That they had already talked about renewed effort and focal point.
And yet, tiny had changed.
The lights had been lustrous within MetLife Stadium, however this felt admire one in every of Rodgers’ popular darkness retreats; his face conveying extra regret than resolve.
And so it’ll be no surprise that by Tuesday morning the Jets had pulled the put off on bringing in a single in every of Rodgers’ all-time popular broad receivers, reportedly acquiring Devonte Adams from Las Vegas for a conditional third-spherical decide.
The switch reunites the quarterback and dawdle-catcher — they carried out together for eight seasons (2014-2021) in Green Bay. They blended for 622 receptions, 7,590 yards and 69 touchdowns in odd season play.
These had been the glory days. Nice rankings and colossal wins. The Packers averaged 10 odd season victories within the course of that length and received six playoff video games to approach to the NFC championship sport four a spread of instances.
Adams left for Vegas in 2022 and nothing labored moderately admire it did with the Packers. After 14 touchdowns his first season, he’s had upright nine since. The Jets tried to interchange for him final year however the Raiders wouldn’t hurry. After upright one touchdown in three video games this year, Adams requested a exchange.
Rodgers, meanwhile, headed to the Jets in 2023 and there turned into tiny extra than hurt and disappointment. At age 41, there isn’t a spread of time for lost seasons or leisurely rebuilds. New York brought Rodgers in to get cling of now.
They aren’t winning.
Possibly a recoupling will exchange every part. The Jets obvious hope so. They’re gentle great out of alternatives, a spread of than sooner or later discovering a approach to get dawdle rusher Haason Reddick aid into the fold. Reddick is extra seemingly to be traded even though.
Body of workers proprietor Woody Johnson declared this crew the most talented in 25 years. He primitive that as justification for firing Saleh after a 2-3 launch to the season. Within the intervening time, offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett (a perceived Rodgers’ confidant) turned into demoted from calling performs.
But, in desire to lights a hearth of inspiration beneath the roster, the Jets appeared admire the same mature mediocre, beat-themselves outfit on Monday.
There turned into a dropped touchdown. There were two field aim makes an strive that hit uprights and crossbars. There were 11 penalties for 110 yards. New York converted upright four of 12 third down makes an strive and went 1 for 4 within the red zone.
No longer even a converted Hail Mary at the pause of the first half of may well assign them.
Rodgers gave the affect haunted that the game didn’t slay up better.
“Now we cling to get going,” Rodgers acknowledged on Monday. “This turned into a golden different. Some video games you get cling of within the NFL, and a few video games you give away. This turned into a giveaway.”
It turned into indicative of this total Jets experiment for Rodgers. It began with great fanfare and the expectations of a leisurely-profession potential championship push within the spirit of Peyton Manning in Denver and Tom Brady in Tampa Bay.
Subscribe to Yahoo Sports actions NFL on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.
Instead, New York is staring at a stretch this month that system video games at 4-2 Pittsburgh and later web web hosting 5-1 Houston.
“It’s frustrating,” Rodgers acknowledged. “I’m right here to get cling of [these] video games.”
The season isn’t over, however it indubitably is trending in that course. Attributable to this truth the franchise pulling every early-season emergency wire it’ll.
Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich is the intervening time coach and Todd Downing is calling performs. So now it’s all in regards to the avid gamers.
Adams offers Rodgers a neatly-recognized face and weapon and bolsters a receiving corps that already system Garrett Wilson. The offense wasn’t incorrect on Monday — Rodgers threw for 294 yards and two touchdowns and Breece Corridor ran for 113 yards whereas including 56 receiving.
It calm wasn’t enough even though. And for a crew with Expansive Bowl aspirations, that isn’t enough.
The third-spherical decide (which may well develop into a 2nd if it works out) is a vital however no longer daunting stamp for Adams. What a spread of alternatives had been there for the Jets? Rodgers is by some distance their most carried out quarterback in decades and this turned into — is — an all-in season.
Would possibly per chance per chance maybe additionally as neatly absorb the most of it whereas something can calm be made.