The Jets added talent, depth to their roster and, perhaps most importantly, the return of quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who missed all but four games of the 2023 NFL season after rupturing his Achilles in Week 1.
Now, as the Jets prepare for the 2024 season and minicamp continues with overtime activities, CBS Sports reporter Tyler Sullivan took a closer look at the four teams in the AFC East and left us with some words to warm the hearts of Jets Nation.
“I’m bullish on the 2024 New York Jets,” he wrote, with the Green and White looking to return to the postseason for the first time since 2010. Plus, with changes at Buffalo (fourth straight division champion), Miami and a rebuilding New England, the Jets are looking to win their first division title since 2002.
“In a conference that features teams led by Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow and other elite quarterbacks. [the Jets] “They have the potential to be the surprise team out of the AFC and into the Super Bowl thanks to a great, explosive defense and some young players on offense. They also addressed some of their biggest needs on the offensive line this offseason with three starting-caliber tackles.”
On the offensive line, general manager Joe Douglas signed free agents Tyron Smith and John Simpson, acquired veteran Morgan Moses in a trade, drafted Olu Fashanu out of Penn State with the 11th pick in the NFL Draft, and the team is hoping Alijah Vera-Tucker returns from a season-ending injury. The Jets also signed wide receiver Mike Williams (still rehabbing from a season-ending injury with the Chargers) to give Rodgers offensive weapons to complement running back Breece Hall and wide receiver Garrett Wilson, and drafted running backs Braylon Allen and Isaiah Davis.
“Of course, New York’s high ceiling is due in large part to Aaron Rodgers,” Sullivan wrote. “Year one, when Rodgers ruptured his Achilles tendon, made it hard to predict how Rodgers’ tenure with the Jets would play out. [tendon] He left after just four snaps to start the season, which led the Jets down their usual path of mediocrity, but things are looking up with Rodgers set to return in 2024.
The 40-year-old Rodgers, a four-time NFL MVP and future Hall of Famer, is taking part in the Jets’ overtime program and is determined to get back to his best form.
“But what kind of player are we getting in Rodgers?” Sullivan said. “Yes, he’s the greatest quarterback of all time and a first-ballot Hall of Famer, but he’s also a 40-year-old guy who just came back from a torn Achilles. At the Jets’ OTAs, he said, ‘I’m 90 percent myself, and 10 percent I don’t know what’s going on with different parts of my body.’ If that’s the case, then 90 percent Aaron Rodgers is better than any quarterback the Jets have under center in decades and should be good for a playoff run. But if that percentage starts to drop, that could be another unfortunate chapter in the franchise’s history.”
