‘Surprised’ if Aaron Rodgers doesn’t play in 2024

April 26, 2023; Florham Park, NJ, USA; New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (left) and head coach Robert Saleh (right) smile during the introductory press conference at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center. Image: Tom Horak-USA TODAY Sports

New York Jets coach Robert Saleh said Friday he expects Aaron Rodgers to stay with the team beyond this season. In fact, Saleh said he would be “shocked” if he didn’t

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“I don’t want to corner him and make him commit to something (long term),” Saleh said Friday after practice. “I just want him to have fun and know that when he walks in this building to unplug and have fun, (chat) with people, come into the office, come talk to us and just enjoy playing football.

“Chances are, if you enjoy playing football, you will want to keep doing it. I wouldn’t put pressure on him to do something like that, but I would be surprised if he hasn’t played a few years. He looks like a kid out there.”

Rodgers, who turns 40 in December, may be showing his hand while speaking on ESPN New York’s 98.7 FM before practice Friday.

“I’m not a cliché,” said the four-time NFL MVP. “Most people would say, ‘I only live this one day at a time or one year at a time.’ But the Jets gave up a lot for me, so just playing one year I thought would have hurt. Now, if that one year turns out to be a magic year, who knows? But more than that, it’s just how my body feels.

To get Rodgers, the Jets traded a first-round pick with the Green Bay Packers in the 2023 NFL Draft. They also submitted second and sixth round picks in that draft and a 2024 conditional pick (second round; first if Rodgers is playing 65 percent shooting this season). The Packers also sent New York a fifth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft to finalize the deal

–Field Level Media