The news of star quarterback Aaron Rodgers skipping mandatory minicamp with the New York Jets set off alarms in the football world, but the team reportedly doesn’t have the same concerns.
Connor J. Hughes of SNY reported on Wednesday that “there’s no unrest inside the building” regarding Rodgers’ absence from minicamp this week.
Jets head coach Robert Saleh told reporters on Tuesday that Rodgers, who had been present for voluntary OTAs, informed the team he would be skipping minicamp to attend an event that is “important to him.” Despite the team’s prior knowledge of his plans to be away, it’s still considered an unexcused absence that leaves the four-time NFL MVP subject to potential fines.
“Aaron and I are on the exact same page,” Saleh told reporters on Wednersday. “There’s no issue between Aaron or his teammates, for that matter.
“We addressed it yesterday. It’s more of an issue for everyone outside the building than it is inside.”
Hughes noted that Rodgers “planned this trip when he was still rehabbing” from the torn Achilles that kept him sidelined for virtually the entire 2023 season. The team reportedly has “known about it from the moment there was an overlap with the release of the minicamp schedule.”
While Rodgers’ absence is not causing a stir in New York, the team faces a larger concern over the absence of defensive end Haason Reddick.
The Jets acquired Reddick from the Philadelphia Eagles this offseason. Despite making it clear that he was seeking a new contract as he enters the final year of his current deal, he initially indicated that he intended to participate in New York’s offseason program.
However, Reddick was not present for OTAs, and skipping the mandatory minicamp caught the Jets off-guard. Still, Saleh said on Tuesday that he’s not concerned about the star edge-rusher potentially skipping training camp.
These absences are just part of the seemingly annual offseason drama that surrounds the Jets, but the team is certainly hoping that Rodgers and Reddick will be ready to go when training camp begins next month.