Aaron Rodgers connects with WR Garrett Wilson for touchdown in Jets debut

Aaron Rodgers last appeared in a preseason game in 2018 as a member of the Green Bay Packers. Five years later, the four-time MVP stepped on the field in the New York Jets' preseason finale in green and white.

Rodgers' first drive as a Jet – five plays for 23 yards – resulted in a punt, but he connected with receiver Garrett Wilson for a 14-yard touchdown in their second series Saturday against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium.

The drive started with a 6-yard run from RB Michael Carter. Rodgers couldn't connect with tight end C. J. Uzomah on a deep pass down the middle and an incomplete pass to Wilson on the next play set up a third-and-4 at the Giants' 46-yard line. The Jets picked up the first down with Rodgers' short, 10-yard pass to receiver Mecole Hardman and Rodgers found Wilson in the end zone for a 14-yard touchdown the next play to put the Jets up 7-0 over the Giants.

The Jets got it done on the defensive end, too. Cornerback Brandin Echols intercepted a pass from Giants quarterback Tommy DeVito at the Jets' 33-yard line near the end of the first quarter and ran it back 67 yards for a touchdown to put the Jets up 14-0.

That marked the end of Rodgers' night and Zach Wilson came in the next possession. Rodgers finished the day with five completions on eight attempts for 47 yards and one touchdown.

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“I got in, didn’t get hurt, scored,” Rodgers said. “It was a good night.”

Head coach Robert Saleh said the decision to start the veteran quarterback in his first preseason game since 2018 boiled down to the simple fact that "he's new" to the team.

"I know he's been in the league for a very long time, but we just didn't want Sept. 11 to be the first time he's stepped in the MetLife Stadium," Saleh said, referring to the Jets' regular-season opener against the Buffalo Bills. "You can't coach scared, you can't play scared."

Rodgers, 39, was traded to the Jets in April after he spent 18 seasons with the Green Bay Packers, where he won Super Bowl 45, the Super Bowl MVP, as well as league MVP honors in 2011, 2014, 2020 and 2021. '

“I had some butterflies, for sure,” Rodgers said. “I loosened up pretty good when I got the ovation when I took the field. That was a special moment.”

Contributing: Associated Press