Snakebitten. Adjective. Definition: Doomed to misfortune, unlucky. A perfect description of the Aaron Rodgers Era for the New York Jets. Three plays into his first drive, the four-time MVP limped to the sideline barely putting weight on his left foot. Over 80,000 fans in Metlife and yet you could hear a pin drop. Before the end of the first half, fans were already dreading the worst. Rodgers has suffered a torn Achilles, an injury that will cost him the season.
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5 Quarterbacks That Could Replace Aaron Rodgers in New York
Despite losing Rodgers, the New York Jets defense led the way with Zach Wilson replacing the veteran under center. A walk-off 65-yard kickoff return by rookie Xavier Gipson gave the team the win in this “reboot” of the Monday Night Miracle. Starting the season undefeated is great, but the reality of Aaron Rodgers’ season ending in Week 1 is a tough pill to swallow. Losing a player of Rodgers’ caliber and leadership changes the dynamic of the offense entirely. It would be reckless for Joe Douglas to not explore every possible option to help the team win.
1. Zach Wilson
What occurred on Monday was the worst possible scenario for New York. Unfortunately, Aaron Rodgers getting injured this early is not ideal but injuries are always a factor in the game. For better or for worse, Zach Wilson is the guy in New York once more. However, despite an inexcusable interception to Matt Milano, this Zach Wilson looked different from the kid we saw last year. Now a full year removed from his MCL sprain and working with Rodgers and Hackett, the 2021 second-overall pick remained calm in the second half. A crucial 4th quarter drive allowed him to find Garrett Wilson for the game-tying touchdown.
Zach Wilson is not Aaron Rodgers nor a top 15 player at the position by any means, and that’s okay. What New York has is a talented defense that will create opportunities, a running game led by a healthy Breece Hall, and a productive duo at wide receiver in Garrett Wilson and Allen Lazard. If Zach Wilson can prevent turnovers and trust the playmakers on offense, the Jets can manage to stay in the wildcard picture at least.
Zach Wilson with his first touchdown pass of the season! #BYUFootball | #Jets pic.twitter.com/ELL400Hqho
— Cougs in the Pros 🤙🏼 (@BYUpros) September 12, 2023
2. Jameis Winston
If Zach Wilson is the starter, the team will still need to add at the position behind projected backup Tim Boyle. If the Jets are looking for the most realistic option with starting experience in the trade market, they’ll look to the NFC South. Jameis Winston is in his fourth season in New Orleans and is currently the backup behind Derek Carr. The first overall pick in 2015 had five seasons of starting experience in Tampa Bay before Tom Brady arrived. Although he’s suffered multiple injuries in recent years, Jameis led New Orleans to a 5-2 record as the starter in 2021. He looked like a new man, throwing 14 touchdowns to three interceptions after years of turnover-plagued play as a Buccaneer.
Winston will need to quickly learn the offense. However, his renowned arm strength and years of starting experience make him an intriguing option. His arm strength would also be opportune to stretch the field more. This would be beneficial for both Hall and Cook in the running game. Plus with Aaron Rodgers now acting as a defacto second position coach for the season, Jameis could be better than most expect.
3. Andy Dalton
Speaking of the NFC South, another option could be to bring in this veteran backup. Andy Dalton would be a low-risk replacement for Aaron Rodgers, even if Wilson is still starting. Dalton’s playing time will be non-existent playing behind Bryce Young. The Panthers franchise could look to add to their draft capital by allowing Dalton to explore this opportunity in New York.
Dalton has yet to have a winning season as a starter since 2015 but has arguably the most starting experience of the available options. He also had a very underrated season in New Orleans last year. Despite a losing record, he completed 66.7% of his passes for over 2,800 yards and 18 touchdowns through 14 games. If Dalton can maintain his composure and trust Garrett Wilson to keep making plays, the offense can still operate efficiently.
4. Joe Flacco
If Joe Douglas wishes to bring in a familiar face, few options make more sense than Joe Flacco. He’s years removed from his prime but the Super Bowl 47 MVP has had a long-standing relationship with Joe Douglas since the general manager got his start in Baltimore. Flacco was the Week 1 starter in 2022 and performed admirably in Zach Wilson’s absence. Through his last two seasons in New York, Flacco completed 58.8% of his passes but has eight touchdowns to only three interceptions. Flacco’s addition to the roster will primarily be as another veteran mentor for Wilson. Learning from two Super Bowl champion quarterbacks will be a vast wealth of knowledge for Wilson to work with. His familiarity with the coaching staff and organization makes him one of the best candidates.
5. Carson Wentz
Yes, Carson Wentz must be considered. The second overall pick in 2016 has had a brutal journey from franchise quarterback to unsigned free agent in just five years. After a rough 2022 season in Washington, the veteran is on the outside looking in. However, that doesn’t mean he can’t contribute. Douglas was in Philadelphia when Wentz joined the team in 2016. While not the most efficient name, it’s hard to argue Wentz isn’t better than Tim Boyle. With back-to-back seasons with a completion percentage of 62% and two years removed from a 27-touchdown season with 3,563 yards in Indianapolis, Wentz is still useful.
In addition, Wentz’s experiences of dealing with a big market as a former number two pick can give Zach some perspective on how to overcome the noise. It’s not perfect but it’s a move that makes sense. The former Eagles quarterback would be a unique mentor for Wilson. If Carson can provide some stability behind Wilson, he can help rejuvenate his career.
Honorable Mentions: Ryan Tannehill, Baker Mayfield, Marcus Mariota
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Main Photo: Daniel Parhizkaran – USA Today Sports
