For the second straight year Aaron Rodgers will make a triumphant return to the NFL on Monday Night Football. The bad news: He’ll have to test his surgically repaired achilles against the San Francisco 49ers.
Aaron Rodgers to test limits of modern medicine on ‘Monday Night Football’ vs. 49ers
Have fun Aaron!
Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images
James Dator has been covering a wide range of sports for SB Nation for over a decade, with a special focus on the NFL.
In what’s destined to be a great test of traditional medicine, Rodgers will put his faith in the Jets’ offensive line to protect him against a Niners defense that recorded 48 sacks last year WITHOUT the addition of Leonard Floyd to rush off the edge opposite Nick Bosa.
Rodgers debuted with the Jets on Monday Night Football in 2023 against the Bills, and lasted only one pass attempt before he tore his ankle tendon and was done for the season. There was no doubt that facing the Bills in Week 1 was a baptism by fire, but facing the 49ers might be even worse.
There are some fascinating ties between these two teams up and down the roster. Naturally there’s Robert Saleh, who came to the Jets as head coach after spending years as Kyle Shanahan’s defensive coordinator in San Francisco — but beyond that there’s also several players who switched between these teams like Javon Kinclaw, who joined the Jets in free agency in 2024, and Soloman Thomas who began his career on the 49ers.
To New York’s credit they boasted one of the best defenses in the NFL last year, which was enough to carry them to a 7-10 record despite having an island of misfit toys at quarterback. However, they were 25th in the league against the run — and the 49ers will be leaning heavily on Christian McCaffrey to carry the offensive load.
This is going to be a banger of a way to kick off Monday Night Football. Let’s see if Rodgers’ ankle is up to it.
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