Aaron Rodgers throws a TD in shedding trigger in return to area

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SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Aaron Rodgers made it by way of his second attempt at an opener with the New York Jets wholesome even when the efficiency wasn’t near the extent that made him a four-time MVP.

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A yr after tearing his Achilles on his fourth snap with New York, Rodgers made his extremely anticipated return to the sector on Monday night time in a 32-19 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

Rodgers confirmed indicators of his previous self, connecting on a well-placed back-shoulder throw to his new No. 1 receiver Garrett Wilson within the first half and connecting on a 36-yard scoring strike to his previous Inexperienced Bay teammate Allen Lazard within the third quarter.

However these have been only a few flashes on an evening when he didn’t look comfy transferring within the pocket in his first again from the intense harm and struggled to maneuver the ball constantly for the Jets.

Rodgers completed 13 for 21 for 167 with the landing and one interception. He threw for fewer yards solely 13 instances in 218 earlier begins when he performed a minimum of 35 snaps.

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Rodgers’ second recreation with the Jets lasted for much longer than his first, which ended with a season-ending Achilles harm after simply 4 snaps in 2023.

New York went three-and-out on the opening drive this recreation with two handoffs and a dropped move by Lazard earlier than a setback on the fourth snap that was non permanent as a substitute of season ending this time round. Rodgers’ first completion as a Jet was caught by Breece Corridor, who had the ball punched out by Fred Warner for a misplaced fumble that arrange a Niners area aim.

Rodgers acquired the Jets transferring on the next drive, changing three third-down passes to Wilson to arrange Corridor’s 3-yard TD run. Rodgers went 6 for 7 for 61 yards on the drive.

New York didn’t get one other first down till early within the third quarter after the 49ers had taken a 23-7 lead. Two performs after Rodgers’ 12-yard move to Corridor, Rodgers threw his first interception with New York. His move to Wilson was deflected by Deommodore Lenoir into the fingers of linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles.

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Rodgers offered his largest spotlight on his subsequent drive when he took benefit of a free play when Leonard Floyd jumped offsides to throw his first TD move in 610 days on the deep move over the center to Lazard.

It was Lazard who additionally caught Rodgers’ final TD move in Inexperienced Bay within the last recreation of the 2022 season earlier than he was traded to New York the place he was imagined to fill the void of a franchise quarterback that Jets followers have been ready a half-century for since Joe Namath left city.

The 40-year-old Rodgers spent his first 18 seasons with the Inexperienced Bay Packers, successful 4 MVPs and one Tremendous Bowl. He was traded earlier than the 2023 season to the quarterback-starved Jets. New York has gone by way of 15 beginning QBs since final making the playoffs in 2010 with Mark Sanchez for the longest lively postseason drought within the NFL.

However Rodgers’ first season with New York ended nearly as shortly because it began. He ran onto the sector with an American flag as a part of a pregame celebration.

Then on his opening drive in opposition to Buffalo, Rodgers threw one incompletion and was sacked by Leonard Floyd and injured the Achilles. Rodgers made an try and return late final season however was unable to drag it off, setting the stage for his return in his native California in opposition to San Francisco — the group that memorably left out drafting him No. 1 total in 2005 to take Alex Smith as a substitute.

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