The Jets’ 3-7 start? Honestly, it looks like a first draft of a script that no one wants to read again. I mean, at this point, they’re probably just crossing out the pages and saying, “Let’s pretend this never happened.” And in the middle of all this chaos, awarding anyone, let alone Aaron Rodgers (who has been in terms of his standards, under center), seems a bit off-track. But enters punter Thomas Morstead.

Many thought Rodgers would lead the Jets to the promised land (and some still do). But he seemed to be getting overlooked—yet again. This week, Morstead grabbed the Lou Gehrig Sports Award for his “Punt for ALS” campaign, and Rodgers? Left in the dust, despite all the buzz surrounding his return. Sure, he will not receive an award dedicated to punters. But his season has been full of ups and downs.

So, what’s going on with A-Rod? In week 10, the Jets took a gut-wrenching 31-6 loss to the Cardinals, and Rodgers couldn’t even break the 200-yard mark for the first time all season (151 YDs). Cherry-picking one off day feels like a stretch when he’s tossed 15 TDs and only 7 INTs—hardly pedestrian numbers. But with the Jets’ season looking like a train wreck, they just can’t seem to hit the high notes we all expected.

But let’s not kid ourselves—he’s far from a disaster. With all the surrounding chaos, Rodgers has still been the gunslinger. Far from the AR12 of old, yet he’s still making things happen under center. But there is a reason for all the cries around him. Rodgers was supposed to finally lead the Jets to a Super Bowl. That was the plan—he’d be the savior. New York aimed for a fairytale ending, just like Peyton Manning with the Broncos or Tom Brady with the Bucs.

But instead, it feels like the Jets’ hopes crashed before they ever left the runway. This franchise, cursed since the 1969 Super Bowl, seems like it’s stuck in a loop of endless misery. And now, we’re not asking if “Gang Green” can make a playoff push. But rather, how low can this run continue?

To top it all off, Rodgers is nearing the end of his career—fighting Father Time and the Jets’ historic dysfunction. Sure, it looks like the relationship between Rodgers and the Jets is set to last at least another season. Rodgers himself has said he plans to play in 2025. But the Jets? They’re on the edge.

Now, you can understand why Aaron Rodgers is no longer a favorite to win the NFL Comeback Player of the Year. The talk of retirement swirling around, combined with the Gang’s fall, just worsened the odds… The story that once had so much promise has quickly turned into a sad, lost chapter.

Aaron Rodgers falls down the pecking order for the end-of-season award

Remember when experts tipped Aaron Rodgers as a lock for the Comeback Player of the Year Award? I mean, he literally returned after the Achilles tear that sidelined him in his debut season after just four snaps. So, you’d understand why the mere idea of him returning had the hype train rolling at full speed.

A month ago, he was still a front-runner. Now? Not so much. His inconsistent play, coupled with the Jets’ freefall, has pushed him further down the ranks. Only in October, ESPN’s Bill Barnwell ranked him third for the award, noting the veteran’s ups and downs. “Rodgers has struggled through an ugly loss to the Broncos and some tension with coach Robert Saleh over his cadence antics.”

Numbers do back that claim—but the Gang’s recent decline doesn’t. Especially when Kirk Cousins has led the Falcons to a surprising 6-4 start. And, if we are not forgetting, he too had his Achilles injury last year. But with Cousins, the numbers and the results are backing him. So, A-Rod and his fans would understand why he has surged up the ranking to claim the award. And if you don’t buy it… Well, in that case, let us remind you of his 509-yard, four-touchdown outing against the Bucs. That kind of play tends to grab voters’ attention, doesn’t it?

Then, the 40-year-old has also seen contenders like Joe Burrow and Kyler Murray overtaking him. Sure, if you are a ride-or-die Aaron Rodgers fan, then the dream isn’t over. But it’s definitely in the two-minute drill territory.