On the New York Jets first drive of the season the unthinkable occurred. Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles, but the Jets still managed to put together a 4-3 start.
The four-time MVP has been aiming for an early return, but after losing three straight games the veteran quarterback might want to rethink that decision.
New York needed to a win over the Buffalo Bills in Week 11 to remain in the postseason hunt, but the offense looked miserable in a 32-6 loss. Zach Wilson only managed to put together 81 passing yards and was eventually benched for Tim Boyle in the second half.
Wilson should be taking a large portion of the blame for the Jets struggles, but we shouldn't ignore the abysmal offensive line and playcalling.
The Jets have one of the best defenses in the entire league and with Rodgers, it's hard to imagine this team not in a much better position to clinch its first playoff berth in over a decade. Unfortunately, they don't have they don't have the 4x MVP, and they're a long shot to reach the playoffs.
Even if Rodgers is ready to return to action, it might not be worth the risk. Here are three reasons that the Jets shouldn't allow their superstar QB to return this season:
3. The Jets have a terrible offensive line
In the last four weeks, the Jets have allowed 20 sacks. Rodgers is about to turn 40 on Dec. 2, and it wouldn't be smart to send him out there with a terrible offensive line.
New York lost one of its top offensive linemen Alijah Vera-Tucker earlier on in the season, and they just lost former first-round pick Mehki Becton on Sunday. As great as it would be to see Rodgers overcome such a significant injury quickly, it could screw everything up for the Jets in 2024 if he were to take a big hit.
The Jets have great weapons, such as Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson. They have one of the worst offensive lines though, which is one of the main reasons they're offense isn't scoring touchdowns.
Through 11 weeks, Wilson has only thrown six passing touchdowns. He hasn't played amazingly, but the pass protection has undoubtedly contributed to his struggles.
If the Jets had a better offensive line, Rodgers returning could make sense, even at 4-6. With the way things are going for the Jets though, the 4x MVP might want to take his time with recovery.
2. New York's coaching staff is an alarming problem
Nathaniel Hackett is one of Rodgers's best friends, but that doesn't change the fact that the Jets offense has scored less than 15 points seven times this season. It's not just the offensive coordinator that's an issue, as head coach Robert Saleh is on track for his third consecutive losing season.
It might be time for New York's owner Woody Johnson to make a few tough decisions, as he cannot allow the coaches to hold his team back. The Jets are struggling to put the ball in the end zone on top of constantly committing penalties in crucial situations.
The Jets have already committed 65 penalties this season, which isn't a recipe for success, especially when Hackett's offense averages just 15 points per game.
Even though Wilson was benched against Buffalo, he can't be the one to take all the blame. The former second-overall pick has gotten the Jets into the red zone but has been halted by his teammates' bonehead penalties and Hackett's play calls.
Hackett was the Head Coach of the terrible Denver Broncos last season and is now the man in charge of arguably the league's worst offense. Rodgers has a great relationship with the current OC, but that shouldn't stop the Jets from making the right move.
1. The Jets might need to win out to reach the playoffs
The AFC is home to a ton of talented football teams this season, and the Jets would need a miracle to jump the teams in front of them currently. The entire AFC North is ahead of them, along with teams like the Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts coming out of nowhere.
Rodgers is rumored to be aiming for a mid-December return, but the problem is the Jets have about three more games til then. One of those games is against Tyreek Hill and the Miami Dolphins.
For Rodgers to return, they cannot afford to lose any of their next three games. Winning out with Boyle or Wilson under center seems like a long shot, but with the four-time MVP, it could be doable.
For that to happen though, the Jets have to win three straight. If they lose one of their next three though, Rodgers should stay far away from returning to action this season.
