Aaron Rodgers Praised by Jets HC Saleh: 'His Mind Is Still Operating at a High Level'

Aaron Rodgers showed exactly what he is still capable of on Thursday night.

The New York Jets quarterback went 27-of-35 for 281 yards and two touchdowns in his team's 24-3 victory over the New England Patriots. He also added 18 yards on three carries in the ground game.

Jets head coach Robert Saleh reflected on his quarterback's performance following the game and acknowledged how Rodger's mental ability has stayed at an elite level.

"He showed the mobility that we have been seeing throughout training camp," Saleh told reporters. "He may not be what he used to be but he still has plenty in those legs and his arm is still 30 and his mind is still operating at a high level. He was definitely impressive today."

Rodgers reflected on his physical state following the game as well and said that he felt like the 2019 version of himself.

"This was kind of the first step in playing like I know I'm capable of playing," Rodgers said, per Rich Cimini of ESPN. "I felt like I was myself from five years ago."

The two touchdown passes were his first in at MetLife Stadium. This comes after his 2023 season with the franchise came to an end just four snaps into the opening game when he suffered a torn Achilles.

His return to the gridiron in 2024 came in a Jets Week 1 loss to the San Francisco 49ers but he has since led the team to two consecutive victories. He is now up to 624 passing yards with five touchdowns and just one interception on the season.

He has brought stability to a position the franchise has not seen in a very long time. This has been a major contributor to the team's 13-year playoff drought but the early returns in 2024 signify that this could be broken soon.