Vincent Frank
First-year New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers is not hiding the fact that his new team has high expectations heading into the 2023 NFL season.
“It’s spectacular, that’s what you want,” Rodgers said, via SNY. “You want to be part of a place that has high expectations and there’s a lot of positivity around here, which I think is definitely a good thing.”
It’s familiar territory for the four-time NFL MVP to be in given the expectations that followed him throughout his near two-decade tenure with the Green Bay Packers. However, it is also unfamiliar territory for fans of Gang Green.
New York has not earned a spot in the playoffs since 2010. It has had one winning season over the past dozen years and has posted a combined 34-79 record since winning 10 games back in 2015.
But as Rodgers knows full well, his presence in Jersey has changed things big time. Currently, New York boasts the seventh-best odds of winning the Super Bowl this season, directly behind the Dallas Cowboys.
Related: New York Jets standing in Sportsnaut’s NFL power rankings
Aaron Rodgers stats: 65% completion, 59,055 yards, 475 TD, 105 INT
Rodgers’ track record is obviously one of the primary reasons expectations are high heading into the start of Jets training camp. Other Jets players, including Rodgers’ top target in that of reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Garrett Wilson, are not hiding from the aforementioned high expectations.
“The expectations being high is what we strive for as athletes, we love that. We want to have expectations to meet. No one wants to feel like their being slept on or anything like that and that’s the vibe around here, it’s cool,” Wilson said.
Last season saw the Jets start out with a 6-3 record before struggles on offense led to them losing seven of their final eight. Young quarterback Zach Wilson was in over his head. The team lacked real playmakers outside of Wilson himself.
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New York’s brass did everything possible to rectify this during the offseason. In addition to the blockbuster trade for Rodgers, general manager Joe Douglas signed wide receivers Allen Lazard, Mecole Hardman and Randall Cobb.
Given that the Jets’ defense yielded the fourth-fewest points in the league last season, it stands to reason that contention will be the name of the game with Rodgers leading the charge.
