Zach Wilson’s mother appears to be happy about the new quarterback of the Jets.
Lisa Wilson posted two Instagram stories after the news broke that the Jets had acquired Aaron Rodgers from the Packers.
The first was a photo of her son and Rodgers standing together at a joint practice between the Jets and Packers during training camp in 2021.
The second was a screenshot of Adam Schefter’s report on the trade, accompanied by three clapping emojis.
Wilson — the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft — was benched last season for Mike White and is not expected to regain the starting quarterback position this season, if ever.
Rodgers’ official arrival on the Jets makes the scenario even less likely in the short term.
With White signing with the Dolphins, Wilson is expected to back up the 39-year-old Rodgers.
Wilson has spoken frequently about how much he looked up to Rodgers.
Lisa Wilson was seen at a Jets game rooting on her son, quarterback Zach Wilson. Instagram / Lisa Wilson
Lisa Wilson shared three clapping emojis after the news that the Jets acquired Aaron Rodgers. Instagram / Lisa Wilson“As long as I can remember playing football, I was a big fan,’’ Wilson said of Rodgers in October before the Jets beat the Packers. “We didn’t have an NFL team in Utah, so I wouldn’t say I was a Packers fan, but I was just an Aaron Rodgers fan. I grew up watching him. He was the quarterback I tried to replicate and steal things from. I like the way he plays the game.’’
Aaron Rodgers traded to the Jets
On Monday, after months of speculation and rumors, the Jets and Packers came to an agreement on a trade that brings four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers to New York.
The trade immediately upgrades the Jets from rising team to playoff contender with the hopes that Rodgers will help break one of the longest active postseason droughts in sports.
The trade
The Jets receive: Aaron Rodgers, No. 15 pick (2023) and No. 170 pick (2023).
The Packers receive: No. 13 pick (2023), No. 42 pick (2023), No. 207 pick (2023) and a conditional second-round 2024 draft pick that conveys to a first-rounder if Rodgers plays 65% of the Jets’ plays in 2023.
What comes next
The trade still needs to be finalized — the terms of Rodgers’ contract need to be worked out — and sent to the NFL.
Both teams will begin feeling this deal as early as Thursday at the 2023 NFL Draft.
For the Packers, it’s now about getting fourth-year QB Jordan Love ready to take over. With Gang Green, it’s about getting a whole host of new faces on the same page offensively.
Wilson also discussed what elements of Rodgers’ game he’s tried to incorporate.
“A little bit of everything. He’s extremely accurate underneath. The way he’s able to place the ball, and you see his completion percentage, how he takes care of the ball, and then he’s able to be that athletic, scramble-type quarterback a little bit, off-schedule, being able to create plays out of nothing while protecting himself,” Wilson said.
“I like the way he plays in the offense and outside of the offense.’’
Follow The Post’s coverage of Aaron Rodgers being traded to the Jets
This past January, Rodgers was asked on “The Pat McAfee Show” about what his advice for Wilson would be.
“I met him before the draft and then they came and practiced against us in the preseason, some of those inter-squad practices [in August 2021]. … I think he’s super talented,” Rodgers said.
Zach Wilson has frequently cited Aaron Rodgers as a mentor. Instagram / Lisa Wilson“I think a little humility is good for all of us at various times in our careers. I think the first year, they literally had no players. They came to play us and I was like, the defense can play, and the offense needs some players.
“For him, it’s just gonna be leaning into humility and consistently working on the fundamentals. … I hope that whoever they decide to go with at coordinator can come in and work with him and break down a lot of the fundamentals for him and get him playing on time because I think he’s talented enough to have a long career in the league.”
