We still don’t know where Aaron Rodgers is. But we do know where he’s not. That’s at Jets complex in Florham Park, N.J.
Word broke Tuesday that Rodgers was skipping the first day of the Jets’ mandatory minicamp. Rodgers reportedly will miss the rest of minicamp, which ends Thursday. Dianna Russini, who covers the NFL for The Athletic, shared Rodgers’ reasons.
Russini posted on X “Aaron Rodgers is skipping all of Jets mandatory minicamp this week because he prefers to be somewhere else away from football. That’s his choice.”
Jets coach Robert Saleh confirmed that Rodgers was MIA on Tuesday, but didn’t indicate it was a continuing situation.
“Aaron and I spoke before OTAs started,” Saleh told reporters. “He’s been very good in communications and he’s been here the whole time. It’s inexcused, but he had an event that was very important to him, which he communicated. If it’s important to him, it’s important to us.”
Rodgers decision will cost him. Mandatory minicamp means absences can be fined. According to the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement, the first missed practice for an nexcused reason costs $16,953 in fines. The second day is $33,908. A third-day fine is $50,855.
There’s been no word out of Rodgers as to where he might be. He leads a distinct life away from football, whether it’s hanging out with presidential candidate Robert Kennedy Jr, going on darkness retreats or speaking at a gathering to promote psychedelic science. He loves to give his opinions on topics like the Covid vax and aliens.
Just last week, Rodgers appeared on Tucker Carlson’s show. Carlson is a right-wing media personality. And during the interview with Carlson, Rodgers praised Russian president Vladimir Putin. It all leads to a polarizing mash of publicity.
Nick Wright, an analyst for FS1, went after Rodgers, Wednesday, for skipping camp.
Wright shared on X “I know some folks think that any Aaron Rodgers criticism is about a vaccine decision from 4 years (that basically only Aaron still talks about), when in reality it’s about him being one of the phoniest, most disingenuous athletes of our lifetimes.”
The 40-year-old Rodgers probably doesn’t need much work in the offseason. However, he has participated in OTAs. Rogers signed with the Jets last spring. But his 2023 season ended four offensive snaps into the first game. He ruptured his left Achilles, which needed surgery to repair.
In Rodgers absence, the Jets are giving Tyrod Taylor first team reps. The Jets are Taylor’s seventh team since he joined the NFL in 2011. A year ago, he played for the Giants.
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