Aaron Rodgers was traded to the New York Jets over a year ago.
However, after missing most of last season due to a torn left Achilles tendon, Rodgers still hasn’t faced the Miami Dolphins with his current team.
That will change this Sunday when the Jets play the Dolphins for the first time this season. Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa said this game feels like it’s been a long time coming.
“I’m excited to see him go out there and have fun with his guys and play,” Tagovailoa said. “Hopefully they don’t do too good against our guys, but we’re going to come out there and we’re going to compete as well and just admire good football if he goes out there and does his thing.”
Jets interim coach Jeff Ulbrich said earlier this week that the team is sticking with Rodgers as the starter, even though the 41-year-old has had struggles. Rodgers called the idea that he needed to prove his value in the last five games of the season “ridiculous.”
“I love football,” Rodgers said. “I don’t need a lot of motivation from the outside world or inspiration. I wake up, I love what I’m doing, I’m grateful to still be playing and I want to go out and compete and light up the defense every day.”
The Dolphins (5-7) are preparing to see the best of the four-time NFL MVP, despite Rodgers’ recent struggles, which have not affected his legacy, according to Tagovailoa.
“Whether he looks like the same way he did in years past or not, you’re just going up against greatness regardless,” Tagovailoa said.
Dolphins rookie linebacker Chop Robinson said he was only a year old when Rodgers started his first NFL season.
“To me, he still looks like Aaron Rodgers out there,” Robinson said, adding that he’s excited to face the player he grew up watching.
Rodgers has thrown for 2,627 yards and 19 touchdowns with eight interceptions, but his 6.3 yards per pass attempt is the lowest of his career as a starter.
He was 21 of 39 for 185 yards with two touchdowns against Seattle last week, but also threw an interception that was returned 92 yards for a touchdown and could not lead the Jets (3-9) in a late comeback — something he has done many times in his career.
“We have tremendous faith in Aaron, we really do,” Ulbrich said. “His struggles partly have been from an injury standpoint, not being fully healthy. But beyond that, I know he hasn’t played to the standard he’d like to play to. But we all know what he’s capable of. We all have great belief in him. I really believe we’re going to get the best version of him this Sunday, I do.”
