Aaron Rodgers ‘WILL return to Green Bay Packers for the 2023 season, who think scrutiny on his future is overhyped’ – despite the quarterback going on a four-day darkness retreat to consider if he’ll carry on playing
Aaron Rodgers is set to return to the Green Bay Packers for at least one more season as the 39-year-old quarterback slams reports related to his future, labelling them as ‘overhyped’, despite his bizarre four-day darkness retreat to consider whether he’ll carry on playing.
Appearing on ESPN’s ‘Get Up’ morning show on Wednesday, NFL reporter Jeff Darlington gave an update on the 2011 Super Bowl champion’s future, which has been tied with Derek Carr’s lately, ever since the latter was released by the Raiders in February, following a losing season for the Las Vegas franchise.
With reports of Rodgers being at crossroads with the Packers, the New York Jets have suddenly emerged as a likely destination for two of the league’s most courted free agents.
‘I’ve learned two things over the past 24 hours that make me kind of believe that the Jets, it’s time for them to simply sign Derek Carr,’ Darlington said on ESPN.
‘The first of which is a conversation I had with a very important Green Bay Packers source, who quite honestly believes that Aaron Rodgers will be back with the Packers and that all of this is being overhyped.’
‘We’ve looked at the contract that Aaron Rodgers signed last year the commitment that he gave to the team and believes that at the end of the day, Aaron Rodgers will be back with the Packers.’
Rodgers has played his entire career with the Packers, who selected him with the 24th overall pick in the 2005 draft.
His contract calls for him to make about $59.5million next season, though he previously suggested that figure probably would get adjusted if he does decide to keep playing in Wisconsin.
The four-time NFL MVP has also just returned from spending four days in isolation on a personal retreat and determine whether he wants to continue his playing career.
If he does but decides to leave the Packers, then the Raiders – Carr’s old team – as well as the Tennessee Titans and New England Patriots would be interested in the veteran’s services, though Darlington claims the Jets would prefer a move for Carr, who met with team executives last week.
‘There’s another bit of information and that is the impeccably sourced report from Diana Rossini talking about that the Jets told Derek Carr in his meeting that they believe that with the Jets, he will be a Hall of Famer,’ the ESPN reporter said.
‘Okay. If that’s not just total BS, if they’re just not trying to inflate them, which maybe that is the case, then go sign Derek Carr right now. They’re potentially waiting on a guy in Aaron Rodgers might or might not be available.’
‘When you have a guy who was just in your building, who you believe will be a Hall of Fame quarterback as a New York Jets player. What are you waiting on?’
The Jets are looking for a veteran quarterback to lead their offense after Zach Wilson struggled mightily after being selected as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 draft.
Carr and Rodgers are front runners for the starting gig in New York. Carr, the Raiders’ second-round pick in 2014, threw 24 touchdown passes with 14 interceptions this season.
After struggling late in the season, Carr was benched and acknowledged he was angry about the decision. Rodgers, on the other hand, had his lowest passer rating as a starter and threw 12 interceptions, his highest single-season total since 2008.
The Packers went 8-9 and missed the playoffs to end a string of three straight NFC North titles.
