Aaron Rodgers is in Malibu, Calif., in the early stages of his recovery after left Achilles surgery, but he’s doing his best to help out his replacement.
In an appearance on the Pat Mcafee Show on ESPN on Friday, Rodgers said he watched the entire Jets’ loss to the Cowboys last Sunday and is communicating daily with Zach Wilson.
“I talk to Zach all the time,” Rodgers said. “I love Zach, Zach’s my guy. I’m pulling for him. We talk every single day. Just want him to go out and play free and confident this week. Bill Beilichick and the Patriots, Jets haven’t beaten them in a while. So good time to end the streak.”
The two have developed a close relationship that preceded Rodgers joining the Jets.
They worked out together this offseason prior to the trade that brought Aaron Rodgers here, and built on that through the spring and the summer.
The plan was for this year to be a reset season of sorts for Wilson, the second overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft who struggled mightily in his first two years in the NFL.
But when Rodgers tore his left Achilles tendon four plays into his Jets’ debut, Wilson became the starter.
He helped the Jets rally past the Bills in Week 1 in overtime, but didn’t have much of a chance in an ugly Week 2 loss to the Cowboys in which the Jets’ offensive line was overwhelmed.
Jets coach Robert Saleh expressed hope that Rodgers would return next week and be around the team.
Rodgers said he wanted to be back soon, but only after he could walk.
When that happens, Rodgers doesn’t know where he will be on game days.
“I miss the guys. It’s hard to be away from them,” he said. “Hopefully I’ll be able to get there at some point. … I don’t think I can be on the sidelines until I can evade guys running [into me]. I don’t know if I’ll be hanging out with Woody and Christopher [Johnson] in the owner’s box eating hot dogs. I don’t eat hot dogs.”
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