“We’re at Day 1. Day 2, I guess, but I think we’re locked in.” Aaron Rodgers is pretty sure that 2024 will be the New York Jets season, as they will be the “team to watch this year.” But will this future aim come true? The quarterback is turning 41 this year, and after an abrupt ending in 2023, this season, undoubtedly, will be crucial for him.

So, that means he is not just under pressure because of his age, he will be in a tight corner due to his health risks as well. Even analyst Nick Wright pointed it out on August 16, 2024. In a recent episode of First Things First, analysts Nick Wright, Greg Jennings, and Kevin Wildes discussed Aaron Rodgers’ crucial 2024 season and the expectations from him.

Wright talked about how quarterbacks like Sam Darnold or Bryce Young keep getting chances despite not living up to the expectations because they are younger than A-Rod, or they have limited weapons & support from their teams. However, in Rodgers’ case, “If Aaron Rodgers is mediocre this year, it’s just over.”

Wright further emphasized, “It’s just over! There’s no like, ‘Okay, wait guys. I know I’m gonna be 41 and with a new coaching staff and all of that. But remember how good I was in five seasons.’ So I think, Aaron, it’s not only that the expectation is so different, it’s that Aaron has to be at a bare minimum goal. Or for us to not be like, okay, he’s probably retiring like that.”

But what should A-Rod do to save his potential position and respect among the team? A Super Bowl win? Well, that obviously will be the biggest achievement both for the team and Rodgers. But Jennings gave a little leeway to the quarterback. Chiming in Wright’s remarks, Jennings too expressed that if Rodgers doesn’t perform well enough to at least get the team close to playoff contention, it will be seen as a massive disappointment.

However, he further agreed with Wright, saying that no one will care about the pressure Rodgers is facing with any issue surrounding him. The focus will be entirely on whether Rodgers can deliver on the potential and promise that the team and coaching staff believe he still has. Therefore, Rodgers can’t afford to fail this time.

These remarks came a month after A-Rod mentioned, “I don’t know. I’m not sure” when asked about his retirement plans. Although the 40-year-old QB asserted, “This one, for sure. I wanted to do two good ones to give us a chance to retire a Jet, win two Super Bowls,” only time can tell what’s in the store for him. Meanwhile, if you ask Rodgers about his 2024 team, he is pretty confident that they will perform well.

Aaron Rodgers and his aim for a ‘prepared’ offensive!

Aaron Rodgers and the Jets are entering a crucial season filled with expectations. It will be like the camel finally meets the sand. This is because, after the disappointment of 2023, the team is determined to prove themselves. So, is the team ready for the 2024 battle? Well, according to Rodgers, who is now in his second year with the Jets, the team is genuinely more focused and ready than ever before.

In a recent media presser, via The Athletic‘s Diana Russini, he highlighted improvements in the offense, particularly with better protection upfront and the experience gained over the past year. Talking about the defense, Rodgers praised the depth and talent of the line. He emphasized how strong the unit is, with standout players like Quinnen Williams and the inside linebackers. Additionally, Rodgers acknowledged “that side of the ball is going to be really solid, and offensively it’s on us to prove that we can be a top 10 offense.”

So, it won’t be wrong to say that all in all, this season is about redemption for Rodgers and showing that the Jets can be a top contender, with him at the helm.