What everyone has said in the Jets building over the 2023 season came to fruition Friday: Aaron Rodgers has made an impact while off the field and on the field, if only for four snaps.
The Jets named their prized quarterback as their most inspirational teammate as part of the annual awards, handing him the Dennis Byrd Award.
“Well, that’s the whole thing. Most of these awards are not necessarily what’s done on the football field,” head coach Robert Saleh said before Friday’s practice. “These guys are with each other all the time, they’re dealing with the building, they’re dealing with every single department, and Aaron’s presence, I’ve said it a million times, he loves his teammates, his teammates love him, he’s so intentional with how he approaches everyone in the building, he’s very thoughtful in the way he does things, and he’s a tremendous human, he really is, and well deserving of the award.”
After suffering a season-ending Achilles injury in the opening game against the Bills, Rodgers remained the biggest storyline and as a stable voice in the locker room for the Jets throughout their dismal 6-10 season that concludes Sunday on the road against New England.
Rodgers talked to then-backup quarterback Zach Wilson often throughout the season, giving advice as a mentor.
Once he was back in New York two and a half months after the injury, which was well ahead of the typical recovery time, he could be found up in the booth with a headset on to help with play-calls, before later making his way down to the sideline when he could walk better.
When Rodgers, 40, returned to the Jets facility in November, he provided a spark to a struggling team hoping to remain in the playoff hunt long enough to give him a shot to save the season.
None of this effort went unnoticed in Florham Park.
“Just knowing what he went through to start the season, you know, with all the expectations and then things happening kinda fast. The world then turned over and just the way he approached it every day,” Garrett Wilson said after Friday’s practice. “His mindset, the way he voices his mindset to us and gets us involved to see where we’re at. It’s just the effect that he’s had on this locker room and in such a short time is why I think you see him win that award and all the guys here have voted for him. That says a lot about him, and how he’s approached becoming a Jet, and being here with us whether he’s on the field or not.
“It just speaks volumes about him and how he’s gone about things. Not just when he was playing but now that he hasn’t been as involved on the field, he’s took a step up in everything else because of that. He’s deserving of it, for sure.”
Although Quincy Williams was snubbed from a Pro Bowl nod, he was named the Jets 2023 Team MVP.
Williams indicated Thursday he expected to make the Pro Bowl after tallying two sacks, two forced fumbles, one interception and 91 solo tackles, fifth-most in the league.
“I don’t know,” Saleh said when asked why Williams was not given the Pro Bowl nod. “That’s a good question. I never know how that stuff works.”
However, Saleh was excited to see his locker room recognized Williams’ breakout season.
“It was pretty cool, because the players vote for that one, and for him to have gotten that type of respect in the locker room, I think it’s a testament to him,” he said. “Nobody knows him like his teammates know him, and while he may have been snubbed for the Pro Bowl, he was definitely recognized here.”
Second-year star running back Breece Hall took home the most courageous player award, Xavier Gipson received the rookie who acts like a pro award and C.J. Mosley was given an award for being the Jets’ selfless warrior.
Other recipients were tight end Tyler Conklin for the good guy award for his presence around the building, as well as wide receiver Justin Hardee for his community service.
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