New York Jets get Aaron Rodgers inconsistent in his return to the NFL after his injury

Last year, quarterback Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles tendon in the fourth game of his debut for the New York Jets.

This year, on his fourth play since returning to the Jets on Monday night, Rodgers threw a swing pass to Breece Hall that became a fumble after San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner knocked the ball out of the running back’s hand.

It seemed prophetic for the evening, as Rodgers and New York lost 32-19.

The 40-year-old former NFL MVP did not finish the game, but that was only because the Jets decided to give him a rest with less than five minutes left.

It wasn’t the coming out party he had wanted for himself or his team.

“We were bad on first and second down… there’s a lot to improve on,” Rodgers said after the game. “But overall I’m really happy with our guys. We were a little off in the running game. There’s a lot to build on there.”

That wasn’t the old Rodgers.

He finished the game 13 of 21 passing for 167 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He was inconsistent. He lacked chemistry with the rest of the offense, which was to be expected. To protect Rodgers, he didn’t play a single snap in the preseason.

But considering he only appeared in four games last season, getting back on the field and, more importantly, leaving it healthy was a victory.

“So many people have helped me get to this point,” he said. “I’m grateful to my surgeon, my physical therapists, my family, my friends and the training staff for helping me get back on my feet.”

This was the first time he played a full game with players like Hall and wide receiver Garrett Wilson. At times, the offense didn’t seem to be on the same wavelength.

He wouldn’t use that as a crutch.

“That’s definitely an excuse,” he said. “I’m not going to use it. I don’t think we should.”

Rodgers pointed to Wilson missing a slant route on fourth down and one attempt as an example of things he and the offense need to fix.

However, there were other times when he looked like himself.

When he led the team’s first scoring drive in the first quarter, he was free and uninhibited, hitting 6 of 7, changing the chains four times and setting up Hall’s score.

But New York’s inability to establish the running game didn’t help Rodgers, who endured more pressure and took some beatings from the 49ers defense. He was sacked once, but hit several times. He got back up each time.

He talked about how he wanted to avoid that at all costs – getting hit.

Now he knows he can do it without catastrophe.

“I wanted to make a throw, you know, feel the physicality,” Rodgers said. “After I threw a few balls and made a throw, I felt so good. I felt like I was in the middle of the game.”

His first touchdown pass as a Jet came on a free kick in the third quarter, when he took advantage of the Niners’ offside position and threw the ball down the middle of the field to the onrushing Allen Lazard.

This result came 18 months after he was transferred to New York.

Things haven’t been going well for Rodgers and the Jets, but he doesn’t think that will define him or the rest of the season, as he faces a bit of a turnaround before Sunday’s game against the Tennessee Titans.

“No excuses, we have to play better,” he said. “I can play better. Next week we can bounce back.”