Tippmann and RG Alijah Vera-Tucker, who, like Rodgers, is returning from an Achilles tendon injury, are the returnees among the starters.
Another way to protect the QB is to establish the run. The Jets have a young do-it-all star at running back in Breece Hall to pair a young room that includes rookies Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis.
“The league is very cyclical and I think the cycles right now, you’re seeing more teams wanting to establish the run game because teams on defense have decided to play a lot more nickel packages and dime packages using safeties as linebackers,” Rodgers said. “When you do that, you’re kind of begging teams to run the football. So we have to run the football to be able to open up some of the stuff in the passing game, the play-action stuff. I like the way that we’ve done it. You look at our backs, you have to be excited about 0 [Allen] and 32 [Davis] the way they’ve played the preseason. Breece is such a different player this year.”
The Jets have one preseason game remaining on the schedule (Aug. 24 against the Giants), which means there’s one more chance fans will see Rodgers make his 2024 debut before the season opener at San Francisco in Week 1. HC Robert Saleh has not indicated if Rodgers, who played one series in the preseason finale last year, will suit up.
“You never know,” Rodgers said. I feel like Saleh already ruled me out a few weeks go, but if I beg him, maybe I’ll get to be out there.”
He added: “I’m feeling good. I miss being out there. Training camp is tough, but the hardest part is not being able to play.”
