The New York Jets are 0-1 in the Aaron Rodgers era … but the future first-ballot Hall of Famer and four-time league MVP didn’t play in the team’s preseason opener and might not take the field until Week 1 of the regular season. Let’s break down what we can perhaps expect from Gang Green, which is this summer’s team on HBO’s “Hard Knocks.”

A Closer Look at the New York Jets 2023 NFL Season

some @AaronRodgers12 to @AllenLazard heat pic.twitter.com/DxmEhmyUaX

— New York Jets (@nyjets) August 5, 2023

• NFL Week 1: vs. Buffalo Bills — 8:15 p.m. ET (ESPN/ABC)
• NFL Week 2: at Dallas Cowboys — 4:25 p.m. ET (CBS)
• NFL Week 3: vs. New England Patriots — 1:00 p.m. ET (CBS)
• NFL Week 4: vs. Kansas City Chiefs — 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC)
• NFL Week 5: at Denver Broncos– 4:25 p.m. ET (CBS)
• NFL Week 6: vs. Philadelphia Eagles — 4:25 p.m. ET (FOX)
• NFL Week 7: BYE
• NFL Week 8: at New York Giants — 1:00 p.m. ET (CBS)
• NFL Week 9: vs. Los Angeles Chargers — 8:15 p.m. ET (ESPN)
• NFL Week 10: at Las Vegas Raiders — 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC)
• NFL Week 11: at Buffalo Bills — 4:25 p.m. ET (CBS)
• NFL Week 12: vs. Miami Dolphins — 3:00 p.m. ET (Prime Video)
• NFL Week 13: vs. Atlanta Falcons — 1:00 p.m. ET (FOX)
• NFL Week 14: vs. Houston Texans — 1:00 p.m. ET (CBS)
• NFL Week 15: at Miami Dolphins — 1:00 p.m. ET (CBS)
• NFL Week 16: vs. Washington Commanders — 1:00 p.m. ET (CBS)
• NFL Week 17: at Cleveland Browns — 8:15 p.m. ET (Prime Video)
• NFL Week 18: at New England Patriots — TBD (TBD)

New Home for Rodgers

Aaron Rodgers hasn’t played in a preseason game since 2018 with the Packers and just because he’s on a new team doesn’t mean Jets fans will see him in this year’s exhibition schedule, either. Coach Robert Saleh has said that if Rodgers does play in an exhibition game, it would be briefly in the finale against the Giants.

Former No. 2 overall pick Zach Wilson will serve as Rodgers’ No. 2. He did play in the preseason opener and was 3 of 5 passing for 65 yards. Wilson set up the game’s first score with a 57-yard completion to wide receiver Malik Taylor — on a play suggested by Rodgers.

“Zach did a good job, he was poised and looked comfortable in the pocket,” Saleh said. “It’s just rebuilding that confidence and swag we (saw) during the draft process. No setbacks. It’s all about confidence with him.”

The Jets still might add another big-name piece to the offense in former Vikings Pro Bowl running back Dalvin Cook. As of this writing, Cook remains a free agent. He did visit the Jets and they have the money to sign him thanks in part to Rodgers reworking his contract. The four-time Pro Bowler Cook has rushed for at least 1,100 yards in four straight seasons, accumulating 1,468 yards from scrimmage and 10 total touchdowns in 2022. That he visited the Jets and left without a contract probably doesn’t bode great for them to sign Cook.

And the Jets really don’t need Cook if second-year tailback Breece Hall is ready off his torn ACL. Hall looked like a budding star in the Jets backfield through seven games last year before the injury. He averaged 5.8 yards per carry, the third-highest yards-after-contact-per-rush average (4.13) among qualifying backs, and hit the seventh-most runs of 15-plus yards (8) in football. Hall remains on the PUP list but is expected back for Week 1. He just might not be quite 100% yet.

Can the Roster and Rodgers United?

Rodgers does have one of the top young receivers in the NFL at his disposal now in Garrett Wilson, the 2022 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year despite having terrible QB play last year. Playing with quarterbacks, Wilson had 83 receptions and 1,103 yards, which were both rookie franchise records and paced all rookies. His 4 touchdowns tied for first among first-year players. The former Ohio State star had three 100-yard games (another franchise rookie record) and surpassed 90 yards in six games. In addition, according to Pro Football Focus, Wilson forced 22 missed tackles, second in the league, and forced those missed tackles after 26.5% of his receptions.

The Jets also lured two former Packers wideouts to join Rodgers in Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb. Last year with Rodgers, Lazard had a career-high 60 receptions (on 100 targets — 40 more than his previous single-season standard) and 788 yards. Lazard, 27, has 14 touchdown receptions over the past two seasons. Cobb has played 12 NFL seasons; 10 of those came with Rodgers in Green Bay.

The defense was Super Bowl caliber last year and has two anchors in defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and cornerback Sauce Gardner. Williams, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, last season had his best year yet. Williams totaled 12 sacks, 12 tackles for loss and 28 quarterback hits in 2022, making the Pro Bowl and finishing seventh in Defensive Player of the Year voting while also being named a First Team All-Pro. Williams signed a new four-year, $96 million extension this offseason. (The Jets also re-signed Williams’ brother, linebacker Quincy Williams, this offseason to a three-year, $18 million contract.)

Gardner, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, became the fifth Jets player to win the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year Award. The Cincinnati product started 17 games for the NFL’s No. 4 defense, totaling 75 tackles, 2 interceptions and leading the NFL with 20 pass defenses. Gardner became one of 70 cornerbacks since 2000 to have started at least 12 games and one of two to play on a top-five defense. His 90 Pro Football Focus coverage grade led all cornerbacks in the NFL. So did his 45.9 reception percentage and 361 yards allowed.

The Jets were only the third team to have the Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year in the same season. New York won’t win the AFC East but it will be a playoff team if Rodgers stays healthy.

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READ MORE: New York Jets 2023 NFL Season Betting Guide