Jets’ Aaron Rodgers returns to practice after strained calf

Jets’ Aaron Rodgers returns to practice after strained calf

It wasn’t so much the tight spiral or the long completion that created buzz around Aaron Rodgers’ latest practice highlights.

It was merely the fact that Rodgers finally was back in action for the Jets.

The Jets eased Rodgers back into drills after he suffered a strained calf on May 23.

Head coach Robert Saleh’s plan initially called for Rodgers to return to practice last Friday — when no media were allowed in attendance — but then the only highlights released by the team that day showed Rodgers walking onto the field and backup quarterback Zach Wilson completing passes against the starting defense.

Any Jets fan holding their breath over the weekend could exhale Monday after Rodgers was shown on social media connecting deep with Malik Taylor and firing a strike for a touchdown to C.J. Uzomah.


Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Rodgers at Jets practice on May 31. AP

It’s no surprise that Rodgers and Uzomah are developing a quick chemistry on the field as they are spending time off the field together at Broadway shows.

The Jets finish up voluntary OTAs with practices Tuesday, Thursday and Friday before returning next week for mandatory minicamp (June 13-15), when the rare storyline capable of overshadowing Rodgers for a day takes center stage: Will defensive tackle Quinnen Williams attend or make official that he is holding out for a new contract?

Rodgers initially was injured during stretching.

So now even that part of practice is up for review.

“We’ve got to do a better job just making sure we communicate with the players and understanding where they are at certain points,” Saleh said last week, “but I think that was our first tweak in our stretching or activation period. We’ll always look to modify if we need to.”