Aaron Rodgers: Jets need to prove they can handle prosperity

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — These are heady times for the New York Jets, who are winning games and enjoying multiple-touchdown performances by their historically moribund offense.

The next step, according to quarterback Aaron Rodgers, is proving they can handle prosperity.

Addressing the potential issue Wednesday, Rodgers referenced a quote from his first Green Bay Packers coach, Mike McCarthy, who told the team in 2006, “Our biggest struggle is going to be handling success.”

“There’s a lot to that,” Rodgers said. “It’s easier when you kind of get kicked in the teeth to come together. It’s us against the world. It’s us against the big, bad media, who’s saying how bad we are. We can kind of come together. But can you still come together and have the same approach when everybody’s starting to sing your praises a little bit? I think that’s the mark of a great team.”

The Jets (2-1), winners of two straight, will find out more about themselves Sunday against the Denver Broncos (1-2) at MetLife Stadium. The Jets, a 7.5-point favorite, have closed as a seven-point favorite only twice in the past nine seasons.

Led by Rodgers, who appears fully recovered from last season’s torn Achilles, the offense has scored three touchdowns in each of the first three games. That might not seem outrageous, but it’s highly unusual for the Jets. The last time they did that to start a season was 1989. You have to go all the way back to 1996 to find the last time they did it in four straight games. Ironically, that was the worst season in franchise history as the Jets finished 1-15.

Trying to develop a winning culture, Rodgers has stressed to teammates the importance of maintaining a relentless focus from week to week. The key, he said, is “consistent messaging from the top, and then the leaders in the locker room exemplifying those messages.”

“Games are often won and lost in the Monday-to-Saturday of a normal week, because that’s when you take care of your body, get your rest, eat right, prepare the right way, have the right conversations,” Rodgers said. “Then Sunday is just the finality of the six days of preparation.”

The Jets haven’t responded well in recent years to early success. In 2022 and 2023, they started 6-3 and 4-3, respectively, but stumbled to 7-10 finishes. Those collapses occurred with Zach Wilson at quarterback; he’s now the Broncos’ third-stringer after being traded in the offseason. The Jets expect different results with a four-time MVP in charge.

Rodgers will have one key lineup change on Sunday, as rookie Olu Fashanu will make his starting debut in place of right tackle Morgan Moses (sprained knee). Moses, expected to miss two to four weeks, won’t be placed on injured reserve, according to coach Robert Saleh.

Fashanu, drafted 11th overall, is a natural left tackle but saw some action at right tackle in the preseason. His first assignment: keep his future Hall of Fame quarterback upright. The Broncos already have 11 sacks, tied for fifth.

“It’s definitely a huge responsibility, protecting someone like Aaron, just the way he’s able to instill confidence in the offense,” Fashanu said. “Obviously, I feel a lot of responsibility, but he’s the type of guy that really gets you riled up and ready to go.”