Aaron Rodgers had a rough day at the office—and Jets head coach Robert Saleh didn’t hold back when asked about his QB’s performance.

In a candid post-game comment shared by New York’s beat writer Antwan V. Stanley, Saleh described Rodgers’ outing as “obviously up and down”—a phrase that’s bound to sting for the future Hall of Famer. The Jets had a simple game plan against the Vikings: play clean football. But when LB Andrew Van Ginkel snatched an A-Rod pass and took it 32 yards to the house, the NYJ team’s hopes went off the rails (literally!)

After the crushing 10-9 loss to Denver, the heat’s on. Rodgers is now listed as questionable, and HC Saleh’s taken some heat himself, initially blaming the 40-year-old’s cadence for the team’s lackluster offensive performance. But after some reflection, he walked that comment back, admitting he’s not even sure if the Jets are ready to handle the timing and rhythm issues with their veteran QB. 

Here’s the brutal truth: After back-to-back wins, New York hit a wall against Denver. They couldn’t find the end zone and settled for three Greg Zuerlein field goals. Rodgers completed just 57% of his passes (24-of-42) for 225 yards and took five sacks (those hurt). Add five false start penalties into the mix, and it’s clear why Saleh was frustrated. Breece Hall and John Simpson each accounted for two of those costly penalties—with Tyron Smith adding one more.

The most concerning part, though? Robert Saleh’s comments about Rodgers’ cadence. “We gotta figure it out, whether or not we’re good enough or ready to handle all of the cadence,” he admitted. The situation took a sharp turn Sunday, and the veteran QB (in classic A-Rod fashion), didn’t quite agree. His response? “That’s one way to do it. The other way is to hold them accountable.”

With 13 total penalties, costing them 90 yards, the Jets didn’t just stumble—they face-planted. False starts might’ve been the highlight, but the team’s overall discipline was shaky. 

Speaking of shaky discipline, one question looms: Will New York fire their head coach?

Will the Jets fire Robert Saleh?

For now, there’s no official word about Saleh being on the chopping block. New York’s aiming for the playoffs, so early-season struggles are a real issue. Still, it’s rare to fire a head coach this early in the season.

Also, much of the coach’s future depends on Aaron Rodgers. If the QB goes down, it’s tough to pin the blame solely on Saleh. But, as history shows, the NYJ ain’t shy about pulling the trigger. His predecessors—Adam Gase and Todd Bowles—didn’t really last long. Rex Ryan also got the boot after four seasons (without a playoff appearance!) 

Saleh’s in his fourth season as HC. In 2021, the Jets stumbled to a brutal 4-13, never managing back-to-back wins. 2022 started strong (7-4 by Week 12) but crashed with six straight losses, ending at 7-10. And 2023? It was supposed to be their year, but A-Rod’s Achilles tear happened. 

That said, if Rodgers can stay healthy this year and lead them to a few wins, Saleh might survive. But if New York keeps spiraling, the decision may be out of his hands.