Aaron Rodgers infamously lasted but four snaps in the New York Jets' 2023 season-opening victory.
Rodgers played 37 snaps in the Jets' 2024 season-opening loss on Monday night.
Jets head coach Robert Saleh admitted Tuesday that it feels better being 0-1 this year rather than 1-0 last season.
"You know what, unfortunately, it does because I know we're going to get the defense fixed," Saleh said, via team transcript, the day after a 32-19 season-opening loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
Aside from Saleh's confidence his defense will rebound from allowing eight scoring drives against the 49ers, the optimism is attached to the health of Rodgers.
Following a sunny offseason upon Rodgers' arrival, clouds quickly covered Gotham at this time a year ago after the four-time AP NFL Most Valuable Player tore his Achilles after just a quarter of play. The Jets rallied for a win in overtime against the Buffalo Bills thanks to an electric game-winning punt return from Xavier Gipson, but the forecast was still dreary.
While Rodgers was replaced on Monday by Tyrod Taylor and is yet to technically finish a Jets game on the field, he made it through Monday unscathed. Rodgers had no excuses after the loss, pledging to play better as the season moves on.
In spots, Rodgers was in vintage form on Monday night, but at the end of the evening, he was 13 of 21 for 167 yards, a touchdown to Allen Lazard and an interception. The loss also served as Saleh's first true game experience with Rodgers after such an abbreviated debut the season prior. The head coach liked what he saw and appreciated how Rodgers handled the struggles.
"You know, there's no panic in him," Saleh said. "He was a calm force on the sideline and I think last night provided a lot of closure for him with regards to finishing a game and knocking that out, and I think I speak for everybody, especially on the offensive side of the ball, there's a lot of confidence on that side."
Saleh, unsurprisingly, is rife with assurance that his 40-year-old future Hall of Famer will captain a prosperous offense.
"Our offense is going to be really good this year," Saleh said.
As will the defense, he assured.
"It's a 17-game season, we've got 16 of these left, and getting the defense fixed is not going to be a problem," Saleh said.
It's been the Jets' guiding light since Saleh's arrival in 2021. Despite being the No. 3 defense in yards allowed last season, though, New York was just 7-10 with the 31st-ranked offense.
That, as much as anything, is why 0-1 with a healthy Rodgers feels better on Tuesday that 1-0 without Rodgers felt a year ago.
