Jets QB Aaron Rodgers downplays absence from mandatory minicamp last month

NEW YORK — More than a month after he was absent from the mandatory minicamp, Aaron Rodgers finally cleared the air.

On the “Pardon My Take” podcast released Monday morning, Rodgers downplayed missing the team’s two days of mandatory minicamp practices last month.

“When I was playing in the NFC North, it used to be a real thing called minicamp,” Rodgers said. “You had one usually and sometimes it was right after the draft. It was five practices in three days.

“They can arbitrarily put a tag on whatever week of OTAs they want and say, ‘This is the minicamp week,’ which makes it somehow more mandatory than the other weeks. That’s how words can be a little deceiving from time to time. They can make a story out of the fact that I missed minicamp, but it was really two OTA days, but [I] came to the first 10.”

The New York Jets held nine OTA practices throughout the spring. The team had the option to hold a 10th practice, but Jets coach Robert Saleh canceled the final one as he had done in previous years.

The Jets held mandatory minicamp on June 11-12. However, Rodgers created controversy when he wasn’t in attendance, and Saleh called his absence “unexcused.”

Instead of reporting for minicamp during the final two days, Rodgers, 40, took a preplanned vacation to Egypt. According to the NFL collective bargaining agreement, Rodgers was subject to a fine of more than $50,000 for missing the two days.

Rodgers is returning from a season-ending Achilles injury he suffered four plays into the Jets’ Week 1 game against the Buffalo Bills. Two days after suffering the Achilles tear, Rodgers underwent a SpeedBridge procedure, hoping to return before the end of the 2023 season. But once they were eliminated from playoff contention, both Rodgers and the Jets decided that he would sit out the remaining three games.

Without Rodgers, the Jets finished 7-10 for the second consecutive year. They also missed the playoffs for the 13th straight season (2010), which is tied with the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres for the longest postseason drought in North American sports.

Much like a year ago when the Jets were presumptive Super Bowl contenders, expectations are high entering training camp, which begins on Wednesday. Gang Green has addressed its offensive line by acquiring tackles Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses, along with signing guard John Simpson. The Jets also selected Olu Fashanu 11th overall in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Along with improvements along the offensive line, the Jets signed wide receiver Mike Williams and added pass rusher Haason Reddick in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles. However, it is unknown if Reddick will attend training camp after missing all of OTAs and minicamp during the spring in what is believed to be a contract dispute.

“I always like our chances,” Rodgers said with a smile about the Jets chances in 2024.

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