The New York Jets’ offseason playbook seems to be missing a few crucial pages. While the media spotlight shines on Aaron Rodgers‘ minicamp absence, a more pressing issue is flying under the radar faster than a Hail Mary pass. Haason Reddick, the Jets’ prized offseason acquisition, is pulling a disappearing act that would make David Copperfield jealous.

John Middlekauff, known for his blitz-like analysis, didn’t pull any punches on The Volume: “The Jets trade for a Haason Reddick who has not stepped foot in their building. Their coaching staff their front office do not know the player that to me is the jets issue because it’s symbolic of Do you guys know what you’re doing?”

This defensive drama has more twists than a pretzel vendor at MetLife Stadium. The Jets, in their quest for a fearsome pass rush, traded for Reddick expecting a game-changer. Instead, they’ve got a game of hide-and-seek on their hands. It’s as if they’ve fumbled before the season’s opening kickoff.

Adding salt to the wound, the Jets had to reshuffle their defensive deck, sending John Franklin-Myers packing to Denver and watching Bryce Huff fly off to the Eagles. As Middlekauff pointed out, “They traded for him Because they kind of need them because they just lost one of their better pass rushers to the Eagles.” Talk about a defensive line looking thinner than a kicker’s playbook.

Now, the Jets find themselves in a third-and-long situation before the season even starts. They’ve got a potential game-wrecker who’s wracking their nerves instead. Middlekauff summed it up perfectly: “Aaron Rogers is going to get the headlines, but I promise you he’s the least of their worries.”

While Reddick’s absence has the Jets’ front office sweating bullets, Rodgers’ no-show is raising more flags than a penalty-happy ref. The quarterback’s “unexcused” absence has even die-hard fans like Rich Eisen questioning the team’s game plan.

Double standards and distractions of the Aaron Rodgers-Reddick dilemma

Eisen, usually greener than the Jets’ home jerseys, sounded more deflated than a football in New England when he said, “At the outset of the offseason workout program, he was there. For the volunteer stuff, he was there… and then he also said at the end of last year’s season that… anything that has nothing to do with winning, all the BS needs to get out of the building. And now he’s out of the building for mandatory mini-camp.”

It’s a situation stickier than the turf on a muggy New York afternoon. Fans are left wondering if there’s one rulebook for the star QB and another for the rest of the roster. Coach Robert Saleh’s trying to play it cool, but his “unexcused absence” comment has opened up a can of worms bigger than a defensive tackle’s lunch box.

David Bakhtiari, Rodgers’ former Packers teammate, attempted to ice these hot takes with a tweet: “Friendly reminder that teams don’t win games in June. Teams can only lose games (injuries) during this time.” But for Jets fans starving for a winning season, that’s about as satisfying as a veggie burger at a tailgate party.

As the Jets navigate this turbulent offseason, they’re walking a tightrope between building team chemistry and managing individual player concerns. It’s a balancing act that would make even the most seasoned circus performer nervous. The question remains: can the Jets turn this potential fumble into a touchdown, or will they be left watching their season hopes sail wide right?