Aaron Rodgers shook off the rust, threw a number of passes and led the New York Jets into the top zone.
All of it made for a profitable preseason debut along with his new crew. And Jets followers can breathe a sigh of reduction.
“I acquired in, didn’t get damage, scored,” Rodgers stated. “It was a great night time.”
Rodgers threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Garrett Wilson to cap his second and remaining collection, serving to his new squad to a 32-24 victory over the Giants on Saturday night time.
Sporting his white No 8 Jets jersey and enjoying within the preseason for the primary time since 2018 when he was with Inexperienced Bay, Rodgers obtained loud cheers from the Jets followers within the stands for the “highway” recreation on the stadium they share with the Giants.
“I had some butterflies, for certain,” stated the 39-year-old Rodgers, who’s coming into his nineteenth NFL season. “I loosened up fairly good once I acquired the ovation once I took the sphere. That was a particular second.”
Then he got here out throwing within the regular-season tuneup in opposition to the Giants’ backups.
After finishing three of his 5 passes for 23 yards on his first drive, Rodgers opened the following collection for the Jets (2-2) with a handoff to Michael Carter after which overthrew CJ Uzomah. His toss on third down fell incomplete to Wilson, however Amani Oruwariye was known as for go interference – placing the ball on the Giants 24.
Rodgers then accomplished a 10-yard fast toss to Mecole Hardman. He adopted with a wonderfully positioned go to Wilson within the entrance left nook of the top zone with 8:23 left within the opening quarter that gave the Jets a 7-0 lead over the Giants (1-2).
“It’s all the time good to play in opposition to the most effective individuals within the recreation,” Giants second-year linebacker Darrian Beavers stated. “It’s all the time good to get good competitors and see how good the protection is. I imply, individuals like that … it elevates us.”
That was it for Rodgers, who went 5 for 8 for 47 yards and the TD in his two collection earlier than being changed by Zach Wilson.
“It’s a begin,” coach Robert Saleh stated. “It doesn’t imply a lot. We’ve simply acquired to proceed working and proceed to play soccer collectively and see the place it goes.”
Rodgers’ subsequent look would be the regular-season opener in opposition to the visiting AFC East rival Buffalo Payments on 11 September.
“I feel we’re prepared,” Rodgers stated of the Jets’ offense.
Brandin Echols ended the Giants’ third offensive collection by intercepting Tommy DeVito and returning it 67 yards for a landing to provide the Jets a 14-0 lead within the first quarter.
The third-year cornerback is suspended for the primary recreation of the common season for violating the NFL’s private conduct coverage.
DeVito, the third-stringer behind starter Daniel Jones and backup Tyrod Taylor, redeemed himself for the pick-six two collection later.
Jashaun Corbin had a one-yard TD run with 8:27 left within the opening half to chop the Giants’ deficit to 14-7. DeVito and the Giants transformed 4 third down performs on the drive that went 81 yards on 14 performs over 6:25.
DeVito, an undrafted rookie from Illinois who got here in after Taylor performed the primary collection, completed 19 of 29 for 210 yards, together with a late 30-yard TD go to David Sills.
Graham Gano kicked area targets of 57, 40 and 56 yards for the Giants, making him 6 for six on objective makes an attempt within the preseason – every from 40 or extra yards.
Giants linebacker Isaiah Simmons began for his new crew simply two days after being acquired from Arizona.
The No. 8 general choose within the 2020 draft, who had three lackluster seasons with the Cardinals, practically had a sack of Rodgers on the Jets’ opening collection. Rodgers was pressured to scramble and throw the ball away on the third down play and the Jets needed to punt.
Saleh introduced Mekhi Becton would be the Jets’ beginning proper deal with. Becton, who missed a lot of the previous two seasons with knee accidents, made his first begin on the precise facet after primarily enjoying left deal with since being drafted eleventh general in 2020.
Zach Wilson was 11 of 18 for 107 yards with no TDs or INTs earlier than being changed by Tim Boyle to start out the fourth quarter.
