MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Aaron Rodgers Watch hit high gear this week with questions about whether the Jets should stick with him at starter, how motivated he is to keep playing and what his future with the franchise looks like.
Rodgers, who turned 41 on Monday, will be back under center for the Jets on Sunday against the Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium.
Rodgers said this week he wants to play the final five games even if the 3-9 Jets have little left to play for.
“I love football,” Rodgers said. “I don’t need a lot of motivation from the outside world or inspiration I wake up, I love what I’m doing, I’m grateful to still be playing and I want to go out and compete and light up the defense every day.”
The Jets can be officially eliminated from playoff contention with a loss or tie against the Dolphins.
Miami is fighting for their playoff lives at 5-7.
Rodgers has had a disappointing season.
Last week, he threw a critical incompletion on a would-be touchdown pᴀss to Garrett Wilson and then threw a pick-six to Leonard Williams in the 26-21 loss to the Seahawks.
Rodgers had the ball in his hands in the fourth quarter with a chance to win the game, but came up short again.
There have been five instances this season when Rodgers and the offense had a chance to win the game late and failed.
Despite the failures of Rodgers and the offense, interim coach Jeff Ulbrich has thrown his support behind the quarterback.
“We have great belief in Aaron,” Ulbrich said. “We really do and we think he gives us the best opportunity to win. After ᴀssessing Sunday’s game, I thought there was moments in the first half where you saw Aaron Rodgers. I thought there was moments, even in the second half where you saw Aaron Rodgers and then there’s moments that he didn’t play to his standard and he’d tell you the same, so we believe that he gives us the best opportunity to win, so he’s our quarterback.”
The Jets have yet to score 30 points in a game this season.
Rodgers also has gone 34 straight games without pᴀssing for 300 yards, a stat he hopes to end this week.
“Stats can be skewed both positively and negatively,” Rodgers said. “It’s a weird one for sure, would love to get rid of that one, but there’s a lot of stats that I’ve been on the right side of, that one is not one of my favorites for sure.”
