FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Aaron Rodgers typically doesn’t do the voluntary portion of offseason workout programs — at least not all of it.
So when he was standing at the podium, minutes after the last practice before his new team, New York Jets, broke for the summer, Rodgers was asked about his perfect attendance this year. He celebrated with a little left-handed fist pump, a move Jets fans are hoping to see much more of in the fall.
Rodgers had reason to celebrate — primarily because he is enjoying this.
“The last six weeks have been about the most fun I’ve had in a while,” Rodgers said Friday during a news conference. “It’s fun to come to work and be excited about what we’re doing.”
In previous years, while the quarterback of the Green Bay Packers, Rodgers, 39, had typically used the offseason to recharge his mind and body to return to playing shape. Because he had been so engrained in the team’s offense, it wasn’t as imperative for him to be present at the organized team activities, all of which are voluntary.
Rodgers was instrumental in New York adding receivers Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb, trusted teammates from his Packers days. He is reuniting with with Nathaniel Hackett — his offensive coordinator for three seasons in Green Bay from 2019-21. Rodgers knows this offense. But he also felt his presence would expedite his assimilation into the locker room and get his teammates used to his style, much of which is predicated on signals and non-verbal communication at the line of scrimmage.
“Yeah, I think it was good,” Rodgers added of his presence at OTAs. “I had originally planned on being back on the West Coast at least a week to be with my body work people and my trainers, but when I hurt my calf, it was best that I was here the entire time rehabbing and just being around the guys.
“It made for a lot of opportunities for some get-togethers in the city — obviously a Taylor Swift concert — team dinners, a lot of hangout time, so that was good. But the on-the-field stuff was really important to work through some of the adjustments and signals, being another voice in the room with Hack in the installs and QB room. It was a lot of fun, actually.”
This will be Rodgers’ 19th season in the NFL, but first with a team other than the Packers. The four-time MVP has thrown for nearly 60,000 yards and 475 touchdowns in his career.
The Jets will not hold a mandatory minicamp next week after coach Robert Saleh decided to cancel it, citing the team’s earlier opening to training camp given the the team’s participation in the Hall of Fame Game on Aug. 3.
Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Lorenzo Reyes on Twitter @LorenzoGReyes.
