Aaron Rodgers stats vs. Zach Wilson: Why Jets offense hasn't improved from 2023 disaster despite QB change
Heading into the 2023 season, the New York Jets were gaining a lot of hype and were expected to be contenders. They had traded for veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and he was going to solve and their problems.
Then, in the Jets' first game of the season, Rodgers went down with a torn Achilles and was done for the season. Zach Wilson was forced to trot in from the sideline and New York's nightmare scenario had been realized. Wilson inspired some hope leading an overtime win over the Buffalo Bills, but overall the season ended for New York before it even began.
Flash forward to 2024. Wilson was traded to the Denver Broncos and Rodgers was fully healthy. Even though the veteran quarterback was coming off a torn Achilles, the hope and hype was slowly returning. Heading into Week 6, though, the Jets are 2-3 which is the exact same record that they had through five games with Wilson. The similarities don't stop there, and in one metric, the 2023 squad was actually better than this year's.
Year Record PPG Total YPG Yards/Play 2023 2-3 18.6 283.6 5.1 2024 2-3 18.6 286.6 4.5
New York is shaking things up and have fired Robert Saleh and demoted offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett from playcalling duties. Before getting to their Week 6 matchup against the Bills, let's take a look at what has gone wrong with Rodgers this season.
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Aaron Rodgers stats through five games 2024
Rodgers was expected to not be fully healthy coming off a torn Achilles, but it definitely seems like Father Time is catching up to the quarterback. There are many to blame for the struggles that New York has dealt with so far this season. Saleh was the fall guy, but the 40-year-old Rodgers hasn't lit up the stat sheet.
Year Games Attempts Completions Passing Yards Passing TDs Interceptions 2024 5 182 111 1,093 7 4
One thing not noted here is the chart is that Rodgers has been sacked 13 times in five games, per ESPN. He's tied for 11th for most sacks taken this year. Also, Hackett remains the offensive coordinator and though five weeks each season, was in charge of calling plays on offense.
Even though Rodgers is considered to be struggling to begin the year, his numbers aren't all that different from his final season in Green Bay in 2022. He had one more touchdown, one fewer interception and was 3-2 through five games.
Year Games Attempts Completions Passing Yards Passing TDs Interceptions 2022 5 168 114 1,157 8 3
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Zach Wilson stats through five games 2023
New York drafted Wilson with the second overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. The Jets weren't able to develop Wilson and it turned out he was not NFL ready. He started 13 games as a rookie, but split starts with Mike White and Joe Flacco. The same rotation was used in 2022 when Wilson was dealing with an injury. In 2023, New York used Trevor Siemian and Tim Boyle along with Wilson to make up for the Rodgers absence.
Year Games Attempts Completions Passing Yards Passing TDs Interceptions 2023 5 149 91 911 4 5
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Jets schedule 2024
Week Opponent Result Score 1 @ San Francisco L 32-19 2 @ Tennessee L 24-17 3 vs. New England W 24-3 4 vs. Denver L 10-9 5 vs. Minnesota (London) L 23-17
Jets schedule 2023
