Sports Illustrated Tabs Aaron Rodgers as Jets' 'One Big Question'

Let the comparisons to Brett Favre begin

It's déjà vu all over again.

The words of the great, late Yogi Berra apply to the 2023 New York Jets.

Just as it was in 2008, the feel around the franchise is one of optimism after the Jets acquired a future Hall-of-Fame quarterback from the Green Bay Packers.

Precisely fifteen years after Brett Favre gave it the old college try with Gang Green, Aaron Rodgers will be a Jet for his 19th NFL season.

Naturally, Rodgers was the topic of discussion when the Jets' turn came up in Sports Illustrated's "One Big Question" preseason series. Running through the AFC East division, SI scribe Gilberto Manzano asked, "Is Aaron Rodgers still Aaron Rodgers?"

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From "2023 AFC East: One Big Question to Be Answered in Training Camp":

Will Rodgers do what Brett Favre couldn’t with the Jets?

Rodgers has high expectations to deliver a Super Bowl for his first season with the Jets. But it will be an uphill battle for Rodgers because the Jets reside in the rugged AFC East—the Bills and Dolphins are viewed as playoff contenders, and the Patriots could be a surprise team in 2023.

And the Jets will likely need to win the division to have a shot at coming out of the conference. Road postseason games in the AFC will be a daunting challenge, with the Chiefs, Bengals, Jaguars, Ravens and Chargers also expected to be in the mix.

Fifteen years ago, Brett Favre also had high expectations with the Jets after a long stint with the Packers. But it went poorly for Favre, and the Jets cut him after one season.

We won’t know for a while if Rodgers will do better than Favre, but we’ll likely see glimpses of how good this Jets offense can be during training camp. We also might learn if Rodgers is fully healthy after he dealt with injuries during his final season in Green Bay.

Perhaps the Jets’ social media team will be busy uploading several Rodgers-to–Garrett Wilson training camp videos to let us know Rodgers is still Rodgers. 

— Gilberto Manzano

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In Favre's defense, it didn't all go "poorly" as Manzano said.

Sure, he finished the season with 22 interceptions, but the Jets won eight of their first 11 games in 2008. Off to an 8-3 start, Eric Mangini's team looked like a legitimate contender until Favre was forced to play through a torn biceps injury down the stretch. 

QB Brett Favre / © Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY

Losing four of their last five games, the 2008 Jets missed the playoffs with a 9-7 record.

If Rodgers remains healthy, the 2023 campaign should end differently. One has to think that the Jets' offense will receive a definite boost from adding a four-time NFL MVP. Even during a 2022 season that yielded a statistical drop off, Rodgers's production was still above the NFL average.

Although it was only OTAs, Rodgers appeared energized and focused during his honeymoon phase with Gang Green. As for any lingering signs of an injury, the 39-year-old quarterback seemingly effortlessly unleashed a number of impressive throws, including a few bombs, during springtime practice sessions open to media. 

Now, it's onto training camp when the pads come on and the intensity turns up.

.@GManzano24 examines one big question surrounding the quarterbacks for the Bills, Dolphins, Patriots and Jets that might be answered in training camphttps://t.co/ec324VgvcH

— The MMQB (@theMMQB) July 17, 2023

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