The 2023 season for the New York Jets was over almost before it started. When superstar quarterback Aaron Rodgers went down with an Achilles injury in the first quarter of the season opener against the Buffalo Bills, all the plans that head coach Robert Saleh had made for the team basically went out the window.

Yes, the Jets tried to put a good face on it when they had to install Zach Wilson as the team's QB1, but there was no chance that the Jets would be competitive. Wilson seemed to make some progress during training camp as he worked with Rodgers, but once the bell rang and he had to line up under center in regular-season games, he struggled badly.

Saleh rarely was able to hide his true feelings. He looked like a man who knew his team was going to be on the wrong end of the scoreboard too many times. He had been so excited when the Jets acquired Rodgers from the Packers, and there was plenty of optimism in the locker room, the coaching staff and the team's long-suffering fans that the Jets would be a playoff team. The Jets finished the 2023 season with a 7-10 record and that placed them third in the AFC East

Wilson was traded to the Denver Broncos in the offseason, and the Jets have brought in former New York Giants quarterback Tyrod Taylor as their backup quarterback for the 2024 season.

Rodgers will participate in offseason practice without limitations

One year later, it appears the Jets will have a chance to find out what Rodgers can do for the Jets as they prepare for the season. Rodgers will not have any limitations or restrictions as the Jets get ready for their OTA's, according to Saleh.

“Once phase three hits, we're not anticipating any restrictions from what we can and can't do with him,” Saleh said Friday at the start of a two-day rookie minicamp. “The guy can still sling it. Obviously, he's still working through his rehab, but there are no issues on the trajectory on which he's going.”

Phase three is a four-week session that covers 10 practices. The practices consist of 11-on-11 work, and all of it is non-contact. It is significant that the 40-year-old Rodgers will participate after the injury that he had last year.

Rodgers played 18 seasons with the Green Bay Packers and he was clearly one of the top three quarterbacks in the NFL throughout the majority of those seasons. He is a 10-time Pro Bowler and a 4-time All-Pro. He won the Associated Press MVP Award four times and he led the Packers to one Super Bowl championship.

Rodgers completed 350 of 542 passes for 3,695 yards with 26 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in his last season with the Packers. While those numbers are mundane by Rodgers' standards, it is a huge improvement compared to recent Jets quarterback efforts.