New York Jets' quarterback Aaron Rodgers looked like a 40-year-old who hasn't lost a step during his first-ever home win at MetLife Stadium.
With the future Hall-of-Fame quarterback coming off an Achilles tear, there were plenty of questions about the aging field general's mobility, especially when the pocket breaks down. Rodgers answered those questions on the second play from scrimmage in New York's Thursday Night Football win over the division rival New England Patriots.
On a 2nd-and-4 from the Jets' 36-yard line, Rodgers scrambled around left end for five yards and a first down.
"I'm not going to lie. The first time he ran, I kind of started laughing in the back of my head, like he's crazy. Forty years old, Achilles is good, it was cool to see him run," said third-year running back Breece Hall after the 24-3 victory.
Early in the third quarter, Rodgers did it again. He ran for 11 yards on a 2nd-and-9 and survived being forced out of bounds by Patriots' defensive end Keion White.
"It's just instinct," said head coach Robert Saleh. "He felt the pocket collapsing and felt like there was space. Like I said, it’s a feel game, you’re not asking him to do that stuff. In a perfect world, you’re throwing it with timing and rhythm and guys are open. I thought it was really good for him to show that he still has plenty of juice in his legs."
In addition to twice moving the chains with his legs, Rodgers, a four-time NFL MVP, looked spry when forced to throw off platform. He made multiple plays on the run, finishing 27-of-35 passing for 281 yards and two touchdowns. The Patriots sacked him twice.
"The cool thing was he showed the mobility that we’ve been seeing throughout training camp," said Saleh. "He may not be what he used to be, but he still has plenty in those legs, and his arm’s still 30, and his mind’s still operating at a high level. He was definitely impressive today."
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