Jets fans got a delicious Aaron Rodgers appetizer on Saturday night.
The new Jets quarterback made his debut for the team against the Giants in the preseason finale at MetLife Stadium. Rodgers played nine snaps, threw a touchdown pass and, most importantly, exited the 32-24 victory healthy.
Rodgers can go back into Bubble Wrap now for two weeks until the Jets open the regular season against the Bills on Sept. 11 at MetLife Stadium.
“Yeah, got in, didn’t get hurt, scored,” Rodgers said when asked if he achieved his goal for the game. “It was a good night.”
The 39-year-old went 5-for-8 for 47 yards and that one touchdown pass in his brief appearance.
He played two series against the Giants’ backup defense and was only lightly touched twice by defenders.
The highlight came on Rodgers’ final snap of the night, when he hit Garrett Wilson for a 14-yard touchdown pass on a beautifully placed ball.
Aaron Rodgers throws a pass during the Jets’ 32-24 preseason victory over the Giants. Robert Sabo for NY PostWhen Rodgers took the field, he received a nice ovation though it was a Giants home game.
The plan for Rodgers and the Jets was clear on the first series: get the ball out of his hand quickly. Rodgers went 3-for-5 in that series.
He opened the game with a quick pass to Wilson for 10 yards that was extended another 15 yards after a face-mask penalty on the Giants.

He then tossed a quick play-action pass to tight end Tyler Conklin for 14 yards, but a personal foul penalty on Randall Cobb moved it back 15 yards.
Rodgers then threw another quick pass to Wilson for 6 yards before throwing two incompletions.
On second down, Giants defensive coordinator Wink Martindale brought an all-out blitz and Rodgers just sailed a pass to get rid of it.
Garrett Wilson celebrates his touchdown catch over cornerback Gemon Green during the first quarter of the Jets’ win over the Giants. Bill Kostroun/New York PostOn third-and-12, new Giants linebacker Isaiah Simmons came off the edge and got past running back Michael Carter.
He got a hand on Rodgers, who ran out of the pocket, and then Oshane Ximenes got a hand on him. A stumbling Rodgers threw the ball away to end the drive.
“It’s good for him,” Jets head coach Robert Saleh said. “He needs that. He needs a little bit of that action. It was good to show that he still has mobility, he still has legs. We’ve been seeing it all camp. You can blitz him but he still has plenty of movement to be able to get out of the pocket and create off-schedule.”
Rodgers led the Jets to the end zone on his second series.
It was a five-play drive that was helped by a pass interference penalty on the Giants.
After a Carter run on first down, Rodgers overthrew C.J. Uzomah on second down. On third-and-5, Rodgers threw down the sideline to Wilson, but the receiver could not reel in the catch.
Giants cornerback Amani Oruwariye was flagged for pass interference, giving the Jets a first down on the Giants’ 24.
Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) warms up before the game against the Giants in East Rutherford, NJ. Bill Kostroun/New York PostOn first down, Rodgers threw to Mecole Hardman on a misdirection play-action pass for 10 yards.
On the next play, Rodgers threw a beautiful pass down the sideline to Wilson, who was covered by rookie Gemon Green, for a 14-yard touchdown.
Rodgers said it was supposed to be a run play, but he called an audible when he saw the Giants bringing a blitz and knew he could hit Wilson.
“He’s pretty easy to throw that ball to,” Rodgers said of his top wide receiver.
Aaron Rodgers runs a play during the first quarter of the Jets’ win over the Giants. APSaleh surprised people this week when he decided to start Rodgers, who had not played in any of the other three preseason games this year and had not appeared in a preseason game since 2018 with the Packers.
Saleh explained that he wanted Rodgers to get a dress rehearsal at MetLife Stadium before playing in a regular-season game.
He consulted Rodgers before making the decision and the four-time MVP was on board with playing.
“I had some butterflies for sure,” Rodgers said. “I think that’s always normal first time I strap it on. It’s kind of the standard whether I’m in Year 1 playing the San Diego Chargers or I’m in year 19 in preseason [game] No. 4 there’s always some butterflies when you step out there the first time. I loosened up pretty good when I got the ovation when I took the field. That was a special moment just to have that kind of support.”






