With the New York Jets falling to 2-6, it’s looking more and more like the Aaron Rodgers experiment will never live up to expectations.

Perhaps expectations were never realistic.

Rodgers is dealing with a torn Achilles tendon and has also dealt with knee, ankle and hamstring injuries this season. As such, he’s on pace for one of the worst seasons of his career, potentially losing double digits for the first time since 2008, when he took over from Brett Favre.

So, is it due to bad luck, a deterioration in skills, organizational problems or a little bit of everything?

“Rodgers is trying to play like he’s 10 years younger, and he’s not close to the same player,” one defensive coach, who was granted anonymity so he could speak freely, told The Athletics. “He can still throw it in a clean pocket with the best of the best, but his mobility isn’t the same. He is nervous and has missed a few throws that I have never seen him miss.”

A few coaches who have studied Rodgers said his footwork was off, and that he made a number of mistakes that would have been out of character from his time with the Green Bay Packers, most notably during his performance in London against the Minnesota Vikings and that late interception in the first half against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“He needs the run game, play action and screen game more than ever, but that’s not what he wants,” the coach added. “He wants to play the way he feels most comfortable. And he doesn’t have the offensive line or the skill group to play that way. Getting (Davante Adams) will help. There’s always a chance he gets hot .I will never underestimate his abilities as long as he’s still playing. He always turned it on when people doubted him the most.’

Rodgers had solid numbers in Sunday’s loss to the Patriots, but he’s now split them twice. In two games against them, Rodgers has completed 69.8 percent of his passes for 514 yards (257 per game), four touchdowns, no interceptions and a passer rating of 115.4. In all other games, he completed 59.3 percent of his passes for 1,382 yards (230.3 per game), eight touchdowns, seven interceptions and a 76.4 rating.

“The erosion of Rodgers’ skills is real,” said one executive. “Not being able to extend the plays with his feet puts a lot of pressure on the attacking line to be solid in the middle and the playmakers to get open quicker. I won’t be surprised if you see more of the screen play brought into their offense. They really need to drive Breece Hall more as a runner and pass the catcher out of the backfield.

The rush comes home in 3rd place 😤

📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/2RvF7RzR7g

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) October 27, 2024

The Jets had visions of Super Bowls when they acquired Rodgers in 2023, but their playoff drought is likely about to reach a 14th straight season. Rodgers, who turns 41 in December, has little time to change the narrative of his Jets tenure.

“Rodgers has been so good for so long that it’s almost as if people thought he was immune to the effects of rupturing his Achilles tendon at age 40,” said another executive. “That is a difficult injury for a young player. To be 40 and play at that (expected) level, it’s very difficult, and they can’t protect him.

“At his age, Aaron has suffered from a career-ending injury in most sports. To not have the footwork, speed and mobility, that’s fine. We can expect that. But for some reason the expectation is that he should look like the 2021 MVP. That’s not the reality. He’s probably doing better than most 40-year-olds with that injury. It’s almost unfair to him to ask him to become the driver of that team under these circumstances. But there is a double-edged sword that he may not realize that he is not the same Aaron he is in 2021.”

Mahomes still ‘elite’

Patrick Mahomes is on pace for the worst statistical season of his career, but there aren’t nearly as many concerns about the three-time champion.

“Mahomes is playing at an elite level,” one defensive coach said. “(He) does what is necessary, week in week out, is in complete control of the situation. His footwork in the pocket is as good as I’ve seen. (He’s still growing as a player every week. Best competitor in the game.

“He just wants his team to win.”

GO DEEPER

How Chiefs rookie DeAndre Hopkins helped Travis Kelce have his best game of the season

The fight is more about the Mahomes situation. They have had numerous issues at both tackle spots. Wideouts Rashee Rice and Hollywood Brown and running back Isiah Pacheco are out with significant injuries. Tight end Travis Kelce has fallen off quickly, although he finally caught fire on Sunday against the Raiders.

“The Pacheco injury is the biggest factor that not many people talk about,” one executive said. “They obviously miss the game, but also the physicality and spark he brings to the attack. Kelce is getting older. The tape shows that he loses something (meters after the catch).”

Yet the Chiefs are the NFL’s only undefeated team. Certainly give their defense credit, but Mahomes made a ton of clutch plays in the fourth quarter to seal some close wins.

WE ARE NOT WORTHY. pic.twitter.com/8dYWhc0ybA

— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) October 27, 2024

“Mahomes’ problem right now is the injuries at receiver,” another executive said. “(DeAndre) Hopkins is not a player who stretches all over the field anymore. It’s more a matter of protection and balance issues, which puts a lot of pressure on the QB. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with Mahomes. He’s managing a little bit like – showing in terms of personnel standpoint, their depth, rotating guys, offensive linemen, injuries.

The Chiefs acquired Hopkins last week and Pacheco is expected to return sometime this season, so help is on the way. Meanwhile, Mahomes is trying to figure out what works with the rest of his supporting cast, just like he did last season before turning it on in the playoffs.

If their opponents can’t shut down Mahomes when it looks like this, they could be in real trouble if the Chiefs find out later. And it’s a good bet that this happens, because they almost always do.

Biggest movers

There has been a lot of stability in the top five lately, but Jared Goff, Jordan Love and Brock Purdy are knocking on the door. Goff is the latest to climb to No. 6, and a jump of two spots in the top 10 is a significant increase. Goff is heavily involved in the MVP race.

Jayden Daniels made his top-10 debut with a two-point jump of his own. He has been electric this season and just had a signature Hail Mary moment to shock Caleb Williams and the Bears. Daniels, who has been ranked in the top 13 for four consecutive weeks, and Lamar Jackson are the only two QBs who have ranked weekly but never dropped.

A;FK;JD;KJF;LAKEJFLKJVAL;KEJL;JF;EFJ;LFAKJ

JAYDEN DANIELS HAIL MARY! @COMMANDS WIN! pic.twitter.com/BsQ0Z84Rko

—NFL (@NFL) October 27, 2024

On the other hand, Dak Prescott’s six-point fall came after the Cowboys’ last flat performance on national television. Prescott has thrown two interceptions in three straight games, including back-to-back losses to the Lions and 49ers, as the Cowboys have fallen to the 13th seed in the NFC and two games out of the playoffs.

GO DEEPER

Week 8 NFL roundtable: Cowboys-49ers, NFC North prowess, Bucs injuries and Browns woes

Injury notes

Derek Carr returned to the rankings as Saints coach Dennis Allen said Monday he was “optimistic” Carr would play this week. Carr fell in the rankings, reaching No. 13 in Week 3, but fell to No. 21 in Weeks 5-6 before the oblique injury. He’s a decisive upgrade over Spencer Rattler, who debuted at No. 28 before falling to No. 32 last week.

Bryce Young also returned to the rankings, while Andy Dalton missed Sunday’s game with a thumb injury. Coach Dave Canales has not yet announced who will start this week. Young debuted at No. 25 but fell to No. 30 before being benched.

Jordan Love (groin) and Drake Maye (concussion) remained on the rankings as they were not eliminated this week. Will Levis (shoulder) remained on the rankings, as he was able to return to the starting lineup this week.

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