Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman has high hopes for Aaron Rodgers’ future with the New York Jets, despite concerns about his age and recent Achilles injury.
While some view the Jets as being in a tight “win-now” window, Aikman believes Rodgers could still deliver at a high level for several more seasons.
“Oh I think he could play at a level that could win games still for another few years,” Aikman said on This Is Football. “I don’t know if we’re going to see that out of him. I know from my conversations with Aaron over the years, quite honestly I didn’t expect to see Aaron playing at 40 years old.
“I thought he would’ve walked away from the game before then. I think he even thought he would have back years ago, but that’s kind of true for a lot of us. When we start to try and project we don’t see ourselves playing and then it’s just hard to walk away from.
“He was one of the guys that certainly has mobility, you lose that as you get older. That’s the thing that happened with me, but yet because of his intelligence, and he still has great arm strength and all that, he could play.”
Aikman, who retired at 34, also acknowledged the challenges of aging for mobile quarterbacks like Rodgers, but praised the veteran’s many other skills.
“You lose mobility as you get older – happened to me – but with his intelligence and his arm strength, he could play,” Aikman said.
Rodgers will have no shortage of offensive firepower with the Jets in 2024, including star receiver Garrett Wilson and dynamic running back Breece Hall.
Coupled with a formidable defense, the Jets have a strong supporting cast to help Rodgers make a serious run this season.
However, the biggest factor will be Rodgers’ health. If he stays on the field, the Jets are poised to make a deep playoff push.
The Jets’ 2023 season opener against the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football was meant to showcase Rodgers’ debut in New York, but the excitement was short-lived as he tore his Achilles just four offensive snaps into the game.
Now, as Rodgers returns to the field in 2024, the Jets face another high-profile Monday Night Football test in Week 1 – this time against the San Francisco 49ers, who are arguably the best team in the league (at least on paper).
What are your thoughts on Rodgers going forward? … How many more years do you see him playing?
Most importantly, do you think he’ll hoist a Lombardi Trophy in a Jets uniform before he hangs it up???