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Why Aaron Rodgers says playing against Patriots will be ‘a little weird’
“It’s a good reminder of how special it is to still be playing at 40."
Aaron Rodgers is no stranger to matching up against the New England Patriots.
Even though the future Hall of Famer spent most of his career in the NFC with the Green Bay Packers, he has played four games against New England — sporting a 2-2 record against Bill Belichick and Co.
Of course, plenty has changed in Foxborough these days, with Belichick’s 24-year tenure in New England over and Jerod Mayo now patrolling New England’s sideline.
New England’s reshuffled hierarchy is not lost on a seasoned veteran like Rodgers, especially after several battles with Belichick and Tom Brady over the years. In particular, the 40-year-old Rodgers believes it will be an adjustment matching up against a coach in Mayo whom he used to play against out on the gridiron.
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Mayo, 38, was drafted in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft, three years after Rodgers was selected by the Packers in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft.
“It just gets a little weird when you’re playing against head coaches you’ve played against, you’re playing with guys that could be your kid, age-wise, you know?,” Rodgers told reporters in New York on Tuesday. “It’s a good reminder of how special it is to still be playing at 40.”
Thursday’s primetime matchup at MetLife Stadium will mark the first time Rodgers will play against New England as the quarterback of the Jets.
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Rodgers only played four snaps in Week 1 of the 2023 season before suffering a season-ending Achilles injury, with Zach Wilson and Trevor Siemian starting for New York in the Jets’ two games against the Patriots last year.
Rodgers and the Jets are 1-1 this season, with the veteran QB completing 31 of 51 passes for 343 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. He will have a daunting matchup against New England’s secondary, especially second-year corner Christian Gonzalez.
Speaking on ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Show” Tuesday, Rodgers praised Gonzalez, who is expected to earn plenty of snaps against New York’s top wideout, Garrett Wilson, on Thursday.
“I think he’s a great player,” Rodgers said of Gonzalez. “He was in our rehab at the Achilles factory in the offseason. Wasn’t rehabbing an Achilles, but he was out there. Got to know him just a little bit. He’s a great kid. He’s super, super talented. I mean, he is an elite player.”
Gonzalez was matched up against Wilson during their Week 3 meeting in 2023, with Wilson limited to three catches and 18 yards over 23 routes in New England’s 15-10 victory.
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Of course, Thursday’s primetime showdown should be far more daunting for Gonzalez and New England’s defense with Rodgers in place at QB over Zach Wilson.
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