After ‘Hard’ Training Camp, QB Aaron Rodgers Feels Jets Will Be ‘More Ready’ for the Regular Season

The Jets are nearing the close of their 2024 training camp with a Wednesday visit from the Giants ahead of Saturday’s preseason finale. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who entered the NFL in 2005, believes this summer’s workload has provided him more strain than any camp in recent memory.

“I would say the camp is much harder this year and maybe the hardest in the last seven or eight in my career,” he said Tuesday. “I had a little insight coming into camp that’s what Robert [Saleh] wanted to do, so I think it’s been good for us.”

Rodgers, who has been held out of both preseason games in addition to the Jets-Commanders joint practice, discussed how an increased practice workload can help once the regular season commences, against the 49ers on Monday night Sept. 9 in Santa Clara, CA.

“I give Robert a lot of credit because he – from the start of training camp – said this is going to be a tough training camp and I think it’s been a lot of reps for the ones,” Rodgers said. “He told me the other day we were somewhere in the neighborhood of 300 more reps I think at this point of camp than last year, and it feels like it. But it’s good, I think it’s going to allow us to maybe be a little bit more ready.”

Rodgers played in last year’s preseason finale against the Giants, leading two series and capping his night with a 14-yard scoring pass to Garrett Wilson. Head coach Robert Saleh hasn’t said if Rodgers, who is returning from an Achilles tendon tear he sustained in last year’s season-opener, will play Saturday night against New York’s NFC representative.

“I don’t really have a preference,” Rodgers said. “I feel good about where I’m at with my body and what I’ve kind of put together. I feel like I’ve done different things throughout camp as far as rollouts, rolling out and pulling up, getting out of the pocket and making plays, throwing back across my body, pump-faking and actually extending plays and getting some yards. I feel like I’ve done a lot. I haven’t taken a hit – that’s kind of the main thing thankfully. I respect and appreciate my defense for that.”