While the Jets' decision to fire Robert Saleh five games into the 2024 season came as a surprise to some, it shows they have finally accepted a reality they were previously ignoring: Aaron Rodgers isn't enough on his own anymore to elevate the Jets to contender status.
New York's entire 7-10 2023 season became a "what if?" story. The Jets did not make the playoffs or improve record-wise from 2022. But they received a pass from the public because their future Hall of Fame quarterback missed the entire season after suffering an Achilles injury only a few plays into the year. And even though they were competitive at times, their struggles so far in 2024 show that the return of Rodgers was never going to be the miracle boost they hoped for.
So far during the 2024 season with Rodgers under center, the Jets are 2-3 and coming off back-to-back losses to the Denver Broncos and Minnesota Vikings.
New York's two wins have come against the New England Patriots and Tennessee Titans — two teams with a combined two wins themselves.
After finishing in the middle of the pack in most categories last season, the Jets' defense has shown to be good, but not good enough to carry the team on its own. The New York defense has only allowed seven touchdowns, but that hasn't mattered record-wise.
All in all, Rodgers and the offense haven't held up their end of the bargain. It's becoming clear Rodgers isn't the same player who could have success no matter the situation around him.
The Jets. offense only managed to score nine and 17 points respectively in their recent defeats to the Broncos and Vikings. So far in 2024, Rodgers has thrown for 1,093 yards and seven touchdowns. However, he has thrown four interceptions. And to put his four picks into perspective, Rodgers rarely throws that many interceptions throughout the course of an entire season, let alone within five games.
Rodgers has only reached double digits in interceptions three times in his career. He posted interception totals of two, four, five and four in seasons from 2018-21. The four-time NFL MVP then threw 12 in his final year with Green Bay in 2022.
Rodgers also carries a completion percentage of 61 percent, which while still adequate, is well shy of his career average of 65.2 percent. If his current number holds all year, 2024 would mark Rodgers' worst completion percentage in a season since 2015.
Running back Breece Hall has only averaged 3.0 yards per carry for 197 yards, not coming close to providing the running game to assist Rodgers either.
The point remains: while Saleh's firing surely sends a message to the the locker room, it's possible a 40-year-old Rodgers can't overcome the flaws of the team, no matter who the head coach is.
