Raheem Morris and the Atlanta Falcons sent shockwaves through the NFL when they decided to bench their brand-new $180 million quarterback in Kirk Cousins for first-round rookie Michael Penix Jr.
Cousins’s play certainly warranted the move, despite Atlanta being just one game out of first place in the NFC South. Cousins simply hasn’t looked like the same player one year after tearing his Achilles tendon, and that’s something Aaron Rodgers can relate to, as he suffered the same season-ending injury in 2023.
“I love Kirk. I’ve been in touch with him during the rehab phase, and it’s tough coming off an Achilles at any age. … I hope he keeps playing. I think he’s got a lot of great football left in him and can play, probably, until he’s 40. I’m sure he’ll feel even better next year than he did this year as he continues to get his legs all the way back,” Rodgers told the media before being asked if he thought he’d also feel better next year.
“It’s possible. I might be on the beach though.”
Rodgers said that with a smile afterwards as reporters laughed. So it appeared that it was a tongue-in-cheek comment, but there was also likely some truth in the quip. That was evident when Rodgers was noncommittal when directly asked about his plans for the 2025 season.
“I’m going to take some time after the year, unless I get released right away,” Rodgers said. “But I’ll still take some time [to determine] whether or not I want to play. But I’ll take some time to get away from it either way.”
The questions on Rodgers retiring have persisted since Week 1 in what’s been a tough year for him and the Jets. However, he happens to be on the best stretch of his career since leaving Green Bay and is coming off a 32–25 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars in which he threw three touchdown passes and posted his highest passer rating in a Jets uniform.
That discernible improvement gives credence to Rodgers’s notion that Cousins should also improve as he gets further removed from his Achilles tear. Rodgers’s own legs are back, based on his rushing total from his last game. On Sunday, the 41-year-old rushed for 45 yards, his most in a game since he was a spry 35-year-old, and rushed for 46 yards in Week 4 of the 2019 season.
While Rodgers’s retirement plans are one topic of conversation, another is, if he decides to return next season, would the Jets want him back? After being traded from the Green Bay Packers to New York prior to last season, Rodgers signed a three-year deal with the Jets that runs through the 2025 season. However, both the general manager, Joe Douglas, and the head coach, Robert Saleh, who orchestrated Rodgers’s joining the team have since been fired. And even if Rodgers wants to play in 2025, would he want to return to a team that seems to be years away from contending?
“I mean, yeah, I’ve said that,” replied Rodgers. “There’s a lot of reasons why this would be a great opportunity, but I’m gonna see what happens. They’ve got to hire a GM. They’ve got to hire a head coach. Whether or not I’m part of the conversation, or whether or not they move on [from me], whatever happens, I’ll be taking my time and thinking about my future.”
The 4-10 Jets have been eliminated from playoff contention, but Rodgers still has plenty of incentive for a strong finish. The 10 losses he’s suffered are tied for the most in his 20 NFL seasons as he went 6-10 in his first year as a starter in 2008. He’s also 10 passing touchdowns away from matching former teammate Brett Favre for the fourth most (508) in NFL history.
