The New York Jets season this year has not gone as planned with Aaron Rodgers under center. The latest bad news with the Jets quarterback is an injury he suffered in the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Rams. Rodgers lost the ball on a strip-sack when Rams defensive back Kam Curl took him down. He then went to the medical tent to be evaluated.
Rodgers did return to the game but the Jets ultimately lost 19-9 to fall to 4-11 on the year.
What is Aaron Rodgers’ Status for Week 17?
Rodgers had been banged up all year with minor injuries. His latest ailment is related to his knee. Interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich didn’t have a definitive answer on Rodgers’ status for Sunday’s Week 17 game against the Buffalo Bills at Orchard Park.
“In all honesty, it’s just too early to tell,” Ulbrich said. “If I’m a betting man, I’m betting on Aaron Rodgers to play.”
Jeff Ulbrich says Aaron Rodgers is dealing with a knee injury and it's "too early to tell" regarding his status for Week 17
"If I'm a betting man, I'm betting on Aaron Rodgers to play" pic.twitter.com/4Oe2OL1RvO
— Jets Videos (@snyjets) December 24, 2024
It is early in the week and Tuesday’s practice was a walk-through, so more will be known later this week when Thursday’s practice is “full-speed,” according to Ulbrich.
Rodgers did come out and make his opinion on the situation pretty clear.
“There’s no way that I’m not playing,” he told reporters. A promising sign for the signal-caller, but his coach has said enough to cast questions on Rodgers’ availability.
Who is Next on the Jets QB Depth Chart?
If Rodgers is unable to play this week against the Bills, look for Tyrod Taylor to be QB1. Taylor was seen warming up during the Week 16 game against the Rams while Rodgers was being looked at by the Jets medical staff.
Taylor is in his 14th year in the NFL and has 58 career starts under his belt, so if he has to play, at least the Jets know that there’s an experienced option behind Rodgers. Taylor’s last start came last year for the New York Giants and ironically was against the Jets, but in that game, Taylor himself left with a rib injury.
Last year, Taylor started a total of six games for the Giants, throwing for 1,314 yards and five touchdowns. This year, Taylor has played in one game for the Jets completing 1 of 6 passes for eight yards and a touchdown.
Potential Fantasy Fallout From Rodgers’ Injury
– Analysis courtesy PFN’s Kyle Soppe
Rodgers has been more efficient recently than during the first portion of this season, and he’s done so by focusing almost exclusively on feeding Garrett Wilson and Davante Adams. Should Rodgers miss time, both of those receivers see their floors lowered in a significant way.
Breece Hall was being used as a featured back before the injury to Rodgers, and while his value takes a hit should his QB miss time, his role appears safe enough at this moment to consider him a RB2 in Week 17.