09 June 2023 , 20:45
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New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson is excited to be working with Aaron Rodgers, despite being replaced as the team’s starting quarterback.
The Jets traded with the Green Bay Packers to sign Rodgers, which ended his 18-year stint in Wisconsin. The 39-year-old became part of the Jets roster after a trade which saw several draft picks handed to the Packers, including a conditional 2024 second round pick that becomes a first round if the quarterback takes part in at least 65 per cent of offensive snaps in 2023.
With Rodgers entering the building, it will mean that Wilson will almost certainly have to drop down to be the Jets’ back-up quarterback. Wilson was drafted by the AFC West team in 2021 with the second overall pick and is preparing for his third season in the NFL.
Wilson was speaking to reporters after the latest Jets organised team activity on Friday. He was asked about the QB situation with the franchise changing and how he plans to learn from the experience, as well as Rodgers himself.
“Of course I would like to be the guy,” Wilson told reporters in a press conference. “At first, you’re not always happy about that. But I’m extremely psyched that out of any quarterback we could’ve brought in, it was him.”
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“I’d been talking with him this off-season, I was with him early in the off-season before any of this was even talked about. So we got to spend some time together, and it was really cool to see how it all went together.
“I have to look at where I’m at as a quarterback, and how I can look to be the best that I can be. And I think this can be a big part of it.
“What he brings to the table with Coach Hack (Nathaniel Hackett) and Coach Downing could be really good for me in my development, and this offence of course, too.”
Aaron Rodgers has explained his new role since joining the New York Jets (Rich Schultz/Getty Images)Wilson added: “They (Jets) were extremely open about everything, and I can’t be bitter with the situation. I didn’t perform well and you have to take the situations as they come, so they were extremely open about it.
“So I appreciate the way those guys handled everything.”
Rodgers also took part in press conference duty on Friday, and was full of praise for his teammate. Rodgers also revealed what it’s been like behind the scenes with Wilson, and how his QB rival has been eager to learn from him since he became part of the roster.
“He’s been incredible. He hasn’t made my life hell everyday,” joked Rodgers.
The 39-year-old added: “He’s been a joy to work with, and I give him so much credit because it’s a tough situation.
“What he went through, the frustration last year, probably a lot of the words that he heard from people. And if he’s checking social media, that can be tough sometimes, to deal with that.
“As a young player, confidence is so important. So my job, Hack’s (Hackett) job, Rob’s (Saleh) job and Todd’s (Downing) job is to encourage him and help him build that confidence back up.
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“But if he can step back and look at what he’s accomplished this off-season, and see where he’s at. From the first day that I’ve been in to this last day, he’s done incredibly well."