Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers isn’t getting caught up in “old news” ahead of New York’s meeting with the Denver Broncos in East Rutherford, N.J., on Sunday afternoon.
New York offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett coached the Broncos in 2022 but was fired during the season with the team sitting at 4-11.
Jerry Rosburg took over as interim head coach to finish off the campaign before Sean Payton landed the full-time gig in January 2023. That summer, Payton told USA Today Sports that Hackett’s work with the Broncos was “one of the worst coaching jobs in the history of the NFL.”
It didn’t take long for Payton to apologize, which is why Rodgers is leaving the past in the past come Sunday.
“That’s old news,” Rodgers said of Payton’s comments. “We’ve all said things that we’d like to take back. Some things have been said and taken out of context I’m sure from time to time, but I honestly haven’t thought about it.”
Hackett got a dose of revenge last season when New York downed the Broncos 31-21 in Week 5 last year. This season, his offense looked crisp on Sept. 19 in a 24-3 drubbing of the Patriots in the Jets’ most recent contest. Rodgers was surgical against New England, completing 27 of 35 passes for 281 yards and two touchdowns as New York improved to 2-1.
Allen Lazard and Garrett Wilson were on the receiving end of Rodgers’ scoring strikes. Wilson, the Jets’ No. 1 wide receiver, has yet to exceed 60 yards in any of his three games this season, and now he has a matchup with star corner Pat Surtain II looming.
“We’d like to get the ball to (Wilson) early, but it’s just a process. He’s gotta be patient, and we’ve gotta be patient,” Rodgers said. “We can’t force it. Pat’s a phenomenal player, but Garrett is, too. So it’s gonna be a good matchup with those two guys.”
Surtain has headlined a Denver defense that has allowed the sixth-fewest points per game in the NFL (15.3). The Broncos (1-2) were especially stout last Sunday, slowing down Tampa Bay for a 26-7 road victory. The Buccaneers managed only 223 total yards.
The Broncos will try to maintain that momentum.
“You want to keep a routine as much as possible,” Denver quarterback Bo Nix said. “Kind of do the same things that you’ve been doing.”
Nix, the No. 12 overall pick in this year’s draft, had 216 yards on 25-for-36 passing to go along with 47 rushing yards and a TD against Tampa Bay for his first career win. However, on the season, he has thrown four interceptions and no touchdown passes.
Safety JL Skinner missed the Broncos’ practice on Wednesday due to an ankle injury. Tight end Nate Adkins (shoulder) and receiver Josh Reynolds (Achilles) were limited.
A knee issue kept Jets offensive tackle Morgan Moses out of practice on Wednesday. Linebacker C.J. Mosley (toe) also missed that session.
