Aaron Rodgers finally threw his first career touchdown for the New York Jets, and it couldn't have come at a better time for the team that was losing to the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night.
The Jets' offense managed to score the game's first touchdown (a Breece Hall run into the end zone to make it 7-3), but it was all 49ers business until Rodgers started to make a run late in the third quarter at Levi's Stadium.
Then, after a hard cadence that caused the 49ers' right edge to jump offside, Rodgers had a free play and knew exactly what to do with it.
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New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) warms up before the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium. (Images by Darren Yamashita-Imagn)
He threw a pass to veteran receiver Allen Lazard, his former Green Bay Packers teammate who followed him to the Jets last season, and he raced into the end zone to make it 26-13.
The 36-yard touchdown pass is something the Jets and their fan base have been waiting for over the past 500 days that Rodgers has been unable to play for the team due to a torn Achilles tendon that occurred on the fourth play of his 2023 home debut.
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It was an absolutely dispiriting moment at MetLife Stadium last year around this time when the Jets were taking on the Buffalo Bills.
Rodgers, who ran onto the field waving an American flag, limped off with what was revealed to be an Achilles injury that will sideline him for the season.
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) stands on the field before the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium. (Images by Darren Yamashita-Imagn)
But since then, Rodgers has been working hard to get back on the field, and there was even talk late last season that he would be available to play.
However, Jets fans had to wait an entire offseason and training camp to finally see Rodgers back in action.
Once he got through the opening drives on Monday night, perhaps a collective sigh of relief was breathed. But Rodgers and the Jets found themselves losing a game against the reigning NFC champions, and his first touchdown pass couldn't have come at a better time to make the game more contested in the second half.
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) warms up before the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium. (Images by Darren Yamashita-Imagn)
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With the first one behind them, Rodgers and the Jets are hoping for many more in a season in which the goal is to break a 13-year playoff drought.
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