Jets QB depth chart: Why New York is better equipped to handle Aaron Rodgers’ injury this season | Sporting News Australia

With new starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the Jets were projected to be Super Bowl contenders going into the 2023 season.

Those hopes went up in flames when Rodgers tore his Achilles on his first drive in a New York uniform.

The four-time NFL MVP ended up missing the entire season, and the Jets never found an interim answer at quarterback. Zach Wilson, the No. 2 overall pick in 2021, got another opportunity to prove he was starting-caliber and failed the test. Trevor Siemian and Tim Boyle also had multiple starts but couldn’t generate any momentum.

As a result, the Jets finished 7-10 and missed the playoffs. This offseason, they traded Wilson to the Broncos and revamped their quarterback room to better prepare for the worst-case scenario.

Who is Rodgers’ backup? The Sporting News takes a closer look at New York’s QB depth chart below.

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Jets QB depth chart

Starter: Aaron Rodgers

After suffering a season-ending Achilles injury on his first drive in a Jets uniform, Rodgers is back to full strength and set to retake his starting job in New York.

It will be interesting to see how the 40-year-old bounces back from the severe injury, but there is no denying that Rodgers was still one of the most talented playmakers in the NFL before his injury.

Rodgers is only four seasons removed from winning back-to-back MVPs, but he threw for 3,695 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions in his last healthy season with the Packers in 2022.

The Jets are expected to be Super Bowl contenders with the future Hall of Famer under center.

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Backup: Tyrod Taylor

The Jets were doomed by unstable quarterback play once Rodgers went down with an injury last season.

New York made sure to have a better insurance policy this year, signing veteran quarterback Taylor to a two-year, $18 million contract to be the four-time MVP’s backup.

Taylor has been a reliable starter and backup throughout various stages of his career. He was a three-year starter for the Bills from 2015-17 and an interim starter for the Browns, Chargers, Texans, and Giants. He began his career as a backup for the Ravens.

Taylor appeared in 11 games for the Giants last season, throwing for 1,341 yards, five touchdowns, and three interceptions.

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Third-string: Jordan Travis (injured)

The Jets selected Travis in the fifth round (pick No. 171) of the 2024 NFL Draft out of Florida State.

He will start the year on the injured list as he recovers from a gruesome fractured leg/ankle injury that he suffered at the end of the 2023 college football season.

Prior to the injury, Travis led Florida State to a perfect 13-0 record. He threw for 2,756 yards and 20 touchdowns to just two interceptions and rushed for 176 yards and seven touchdowns.