With another winnable game slipping away from him, Aaron Rodgers sat pensively on the New York Jets bench Monday night, as if contemplating life.

He didn’t seem to like what he saw.

His Jets were on the verge of becoming losers again – 23-20 to Buffalo – and thus falling to 2-4 on the season. They had already fired the coach, Robert Saleh. They had already changed play callers. They had already talked about renewed efforts and focus.

And yet little had changed.

The lights were bright at MetLife Stadium, but this felt like one of Rodgers’ famous darkness retreats; His face showed more regret than determination.

And so it should come as no surprise that the Jets pulled the trigger Tuesday morning on signing one of Rodgers’ all-time favorite wide receivers, reportedly acquiring Devonte Adams from Las Vegas for a conditional third-round pick.

The move reunites the quarterback and pass-catcher – they played together for eight seasons (2014-2021) in Green Bay. They combined for 622 receptions, 7,590 yards and 69 touchdowns in regular season play.

Those were the glory days. Big scores and big wins. The Packers averaged ten regular season wins during that span and won six playoff games to advance to the NFC championship game four times.

Adams left for Vegas in 2022 and nothing worked as well as with the Packers. After 14 touchdowns in his first season, he’s had just nine since. The Jets tried to trade for him last year, but the Raiders wouldn’t budge. After just one touchdown in three games this year, Adams requested a trade.

Rodgers, meanwhile, went to the Jets in 2023 and there was little more than injury and disappointment. At 41, there isn’t much time for lost seasons or slow rebuilding. New York now brought Rodgers in to win.

They are not winning.

Maybe a recoupling will change everything. The Jets certainly hope so. They’re pretty much out of options other than finally finding a way to get pass rusher Haason Reddick back into the fold. However, it is more likely that Reddick will be traded.

Team owner Woody Johnson declared this team the most talented in 25 years. He used that as justification for firing Saleh after a 2-3 start to the season. Meanwhile, offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett (a supposed confidant of Rodgers) was demoted from calling plays.

But instead of lighting a fire of inspiration among the roster, the Jets looked like the same old, mediocre, self-defeating outfit on Monday.

There was a dropped touchdown. There were two field goal attempts that hit uprights and crossbars. There were 11 penalties for 110 yards. New York converted just four of 12 third down attempts and went 1 for 4 in the red zone.

Not even a converted Hail Mary at the end of the first half could save them.

Rodgers seemed stunned that the game didn’t go better.

“We have to get going,” Rodgers said Monday. “This was a golden opportunity. Some games you win in the NFL, and some games you give away. This was a giveaway.”

It was emblematic of this whole Jets experiment for Rodgers. It started with much fanfare and expectations of a potential late-career championship push in the minds of Peyton Manning in Denver and Tom Brady in Tampa Bay.

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Instead, New York is staring at a stretch this month that includes games at 4-2 Pittsburgh and later hosts 5-1 Houston.

“It’s frustrating,” Rodgers said. “I’m here to win (these) games.”

The season is not over yet, but the trend is moving in that direction. Hence, the franchise is pulling all possible emergency cords in the early season.

Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich is the interim coach and Todd Downing calls plays. So now it’s all about the players.

Adams gives Rodgers a familiar face and weapon and strengthens a receiving corps that already includes Garrett Wilson. The offense wasn’t bad Monday: Rodgers threw for 294 yards and two touchdowns and Breece Hall ran for 113 yards while adding 56 receiving yards.

However, it still wasn’t enough. And for a team with Super Bowl aspirations, That is not enough.

The third-round pick (which could become a second if it works out) is a significant but not daunting prize for Adams. What other options were there for the Jets? Rodgers is by far their most talented quarterback in decades and this was – is – an all-in season.

Might as well make the most of it while there’s still something to be made.