The New York Jets saw their hopes of making a playoff run this season fade after Aaron Rodgers suffered a presumed season-ending injury in their season opener.
The organization has already given Zach Wilson the starting quarterback duties, but there still appears to be speculation about the team looking to add some insurance at the position. Count Tom Brady, Philip Rivers and Ben Roethlisberger out of the equation, though, as the Jets reportedly do not have plans to contact them.
“I was told the Jets do not have any plans to reach out to Tom Brady, Joe Flacco, Philip Rivers, Blake Bortles or Ben Roethlisberger,” wrote Dianna Russini of The Athletic.
Perhaps steering clear of the five mentioned retirees/veterans is the right choice for New York. After all, most of them have already made the decisions to retire from playing, with Brady having done it twice.
However, adding either Brady or Roethlisberger would have given the squad a quarterback with multiple Super Bowls.
Brady claimed the Super Bowl trophy seven times and with two different franchises, the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He could try to unretire again and aim for another title with a third team, although that sounds quite unlikely.
As for two-time champion Roethlisberger, he only suited up for the Pittsburgh Steelers his entire playing career, so it’s not like he would have come running to New York if the Jets reached out to him.
Rivers would have been an intriguing option, as the eight-time Pro Bowl selection might be enticed to make a comeback and finally reach his first-ever Super Bowl. Some pundits consider him one of the greatest quarterbacks to never make it to the championship stage.
However, he is now the coach of a high school football team, for which his eldest son is the starting quarterback this season. So, that alternative might not be possible.
Relying on Wilson might prove to be the Jets’ best bet due to familiarity. He was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, although he has yet to prove he is worthy of being selected that high.
It is also possible for Rodgers to make a return to the field this season. He teased the idea a few days ago, and there are reports of him having undergone an innovative surgery to repair his ruptured Achilles that might allow him to play again in January.
