The Jets caused a stir when they chose to activate quarterback Aaron Rodgers a few days before Christmas despite the team being eliminated from playoff contention and knowing Rodgers would not play in a game the rest of the season. Rodgers was seen as selfish for wanting to take away a roster spot from another player.
On Tuesday, Rodgers and head coach Robert Saleh clarified that decision. Rodgers was essentially overruled by the team. Rodgers had wanted to stay on injured reserve and do football work on the side. The Jets made the decision to activate Rodgers, citing roster flexibility as a reason to be able to make the move — the Jets waived fullback Nick Bawden then re-signed him to the practice squad and elevated him for Week 16 against the Washington Commanders.
Rodgers discussed the situation during his weekly appearance on The Pat McAfee Show.
“I assumed I was going to go on IR,” said Rodgers, via ESPN. “I asked to be put on IR, but then there was a conversation, ‘Do you want to practice?’ I said not at the expense of somebody getting cut. I know how this works.
“I didn’t feel like I needed to practice to continue my rehab. I could do on-the-field stuff on the side, but, obviously, I got overruled there. It is what it is. This was an interesting situation.”
Saleh had a chance to clarify the situation himself and also confirmed it was the team and general manager Joe Douglas who ultimately made the decision to bring Rodgers back to the 53-man roster.
“Yeah, that was Joe (Douglas) and I, Saleh said. “He expressed concern about taking up someone’s roster spot and all that stuff and what it meant, but like I told you guys, we had roster flexibility, just like we told him, and we had the ability to do it and so we did it.”
Ultimately, the player who left the Jets as a result was practice-squad cornerback Kalon Barnes. With Bawden, his salary was guaranteed as a vested veteran on the roster in Week 1. The Jets can elevate Bawden for the remaining two games of the season against the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots.
