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Rich Cimini, ESPN writer
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Things have gotten so bad for the New York Jets and quarterback Aaron Rodgers that the future Hall of Famer’s job security could now be in jeopardy.
A day before his 41st birthday, Rodgers played one of his worst games of the season in a 26-21 loss to the Seattle Seahawks at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, prompting a lukewarm postgame endorsement from the interim coach. Jeff Ulbrich.
Ulbrich cleared when asked to give an evaluation of Rodgers’ performance, which included a red zone interception, a game-changing pick six in the second quarter. Ulbrich said he needed to see the film before making an assessment.
It’s highly unusual for a team official to give a “coach-speak” answer when talking about an all-time great player. Ulbrich was asked if he is contemplating a quarterback change. Instead of ending the speculation with a direct “no,” he responded, “Not until today.”
It would be a surprise if Ulbrich replaces Rodgers with veteran Tyrod Taylor. On the other hand, who knows? Owner Woody Johnson suggested benching Rodgers when the team was 2-2, sources said after general manager Joe Douglas was fired Nov. 19. The Jets are now 3-9, having posted their ninth consecutive losing season.
“Yeah, I don’t know. We’ll figure it out when we have those conversations,” Rodgers said of the possibility of a trade, adding: “I’ll have a conversation with [Ulbrich] If that’s what you’re thinking.”
Rodgers declined to comment on how he would react, saying it is hypothetical. He did say that he wants to continue playing and that he feels “as good as he has all season” from a physical point of view.
The only other time in his starting career he thought he might be benched was in 2018, when the Green Bay Packers went 6-9-1 in Mike McCarthy’s final season. Rodgers bounced back to win his third and fourth MVPs in 2020 and 2021, cementing his place in history.
Those days seem to be behind us.
Rodgers (21 of 39, 185 yards) failed to reach the 200-yard mark for the third straight game and fifth time this season as the Jets blew leads of 14-0 and 21-7 and imploded with eight fourth-quarter penalties. .
For the fifth time, Rodgers had a chance for victory on the final possession…and came up short. The Jets drove to the Seattle 29-yard line on the two-minute warning, but retreated and ended up with a desperation throw to no one in the end zone.
“It’s disappointing. What else can you say?” said. “We’ve had a lot of opportunities in these situations. A lot of these games come down to one play, whether you make it or miss it. Sometimes that play happens in the second quarter. If I make that play, [it’s] 28-7: a different game.”
He was referring to his overthrow on a second down from the Seattle 9-yard line. Wide receiver Garrett Wilson was wide open in the end zone, but the pass went over his head. On the next play, Rodgers threw his first red zone interception of the season, his second interception of the year.
Rodgers said he didn’t see former Jets defensive tackle Leonard Williams, who had dropped into coverage. Williams threw the pass to himself and returned it 92 yards for a touchdown, the longest pick-six by a defensive lineman in NFL history.
“I think he’s an older guy and he doesn’t want to take big hits like that anymore,” Williams said of Rodgers. “So sometimes, if he feels a guy coming full speed at him, he just throws him off and ducks. We had him in a situation where [Seahawks coach Mike MacDonald] “I made a great decision and it was worth it.”
It was a potential 13-point turnaround. Instead of a 28-7 lead, the Jets’ lead was cut to 21-13 after Williams’ touchdown and a botched PAT.
“Those plays in the second quarter cost us the game,” Rodgers said.
He threw an 8-yard touchdown to wide receiver Davante Adams, and there was a 4-yard shovel pass to running back Isaiah Davis for the score. Otherwise, he struggled with his accuracy, completing just 2 of 14 passes of more than 10 air yards, according to Next Gen Stats.
Rodgers, choosing his words carefully, distributed the blame, taking all the weight off of himself.
“Well, there are 11 guys on the field,” he said, explaining his difficulties. “Sometimes it’s my fault. Definitely several times today. And then the details aren’t there elsewhere either.”
Running back Breece Hall contributed to the collapse by fumbling in the third quarter, setting up a Seattle field goal. He was heartbroken after the match and said: “I feel like this year has probably been the hardest year of my life… If I can’t take care of the ball, I shouldn’t be in the game. So, I have to be better and I felt like today “We lost the game.”
The Jets are headed for one of their worst seasons in franchise history, prompting cornerback Sauce Gardner to say, “It’s unacceptable, man. It’s unacceptable.”
