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Rich Cimini, ESPN staff writer
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers didn’t hold back. Not only was he upset by a published report that he believed unfairly portrayed teammate Zach Wilson as a “kid quitting the team,” but he criticized the organization for “chicken—” leaks to the media.
“This is a problem in the organization,” Rodgers said on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Tuesday. “We need to get to the bottom of what is coming from this and put an end to it privately, because there is no place in a winning culture – and this is not the only time. There have been a bunch of other leaks.”
Rodgers was referring to a report in The Athletic newspaper that cited unidentified sources as saying that Wilson – who was left on the bench two weeks ago – is reluctant to play again due to the perceived risk of injury. The reeling Jets (4-8), losers of five straight games, are making another change at quarterback this week, as coach Robert Saleh prepares to announce his decision on Wednesday.
A source confirmed that Saleh was leaning towards Wilson on Monday. The other quarterbacks are Trevor Siemian and Brett Rypien, who was signed Tuesday off the Seattle Seahawks’ practice squad. Tim Boyle, who started the past two games, was abruptly waived Tuesday.
Rodgers is back with the team full-time while he continues to rehabilitate his surgically repaired Achilles tendon, and questioned why someone affiliated with the team would want to “assassinate someone’s character like this report does with Zach.”
“I think it’s about chicken at its core, and I think it has no place in a winning organization,” Rodgers said.
Wilson, perhaps in damage control, went into Saleh’s office Monday afternoon and told the coach he wanted to start Sunday against the Houston Texans, according to Saleh. The coach claimed he had no problem with Wilson’s desire to play, but postponed his decision on the centre-half until Wednesday.
What likely happened, one source told ESPN, is that Wilson asked a teammate for advice about the risk and reward of playing a game this late in the season with no playoff implications — and from that word came out that he had reservations. Overall, Saleh used the analogy of college players weighing the pros and cons of skipping bowl games to maintain the value of the NFL draft. Wilson will likely look for a new team in 2024, which could explain any concern about risking injury.
However, this is professional football, and no player wants a stigma attached to their name. Rodgers said he hopes Wilson will address the team on Wednesday to clarify the situation.
“[The report is] “I’m basically saying this kid is leaving the team and he doesn’t want to play and he gave the middle finger to the organization,” Rodgers said. “Now listen, I don’t want to speak for him because he’s going to get a chance this week.” To speak and I will let him speak.
“I’ll tell you I love this kid and I’ve spent a lot of time with him, and I think he’s a great young man. … He’s been through a lot of pain in the last three years,” he said, “and he has every right to be frustrated and disappointed by that.” “I think he did a good job of standing up and taking responsibility this year when it was his job to do so.”
Rodgers said he never spoke with Wilson on Monday to resolve the situation, as reported by The Athletic, but acknowledged they talk every day. The four-time MVP, who has not ruled out the possibility of returning to action this season, seemed particularly upset by the reporting of internal conversations.
“Some conversations are only for certain people and they should not leave the building,” he said. “There’s a confidence that comes with being in the locker room, where you say something to your friend and it doesn’t go—anywhere. Or you say something in the team meeting room.” [and it] It’s not going anywhere. There have been too many instances this season where things happen. “It’s not okay, and we have to get rid of it by any means necessary.”
Rodgers, who was traded to the Jets in April, said they made “incredible progress” culturally over the spring and summer. When he was injured in the first week, he returned home to rehabilitate in California. After the Week 3 loss, he chided the Jets for their sideline outbursts, saying the team needs to stick together. He said they now “need to improve some things, just tighten some things up.”
“I believe in individuals in leadership positions,” he said. “I think that, like everywhere else, there’s a lot of reactions happening at different times, and some of it may be influenced by fans and critics, maybe a little more than you’re used to. But I think it’s a great opportunity to ‘We’ve got to stick together now and watch and see.’ How things are going and how people are responding to this ordeal. “It’s been a tough journey, and I’m looking forward to getting back in control soon.”
