Last year, quarterback Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles tendon on the fourth play of his New York Jets debut.

This year, on his fourth play in his return to the Jets on Monday night, Rodgers threw a swing pass to Breece Hall. The pass led to a fumble after San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner knocked the ball out of the running back’s hands.

It seemed like a prophecy for the evening, as Rodgers and New York lost 32-19.

The 40-year-old former NFL MVP did not finish the game, but that was only because the Jets elected to rest him with under five minutes left on the clock.

It wasn’t the debut celebration he wanted for himself or his team.

“We were bad on first and second down … a lot to correct,” Rodgers said after the game. “But overall I feel good about our guys. We were a little off in the run game. A lot to build on.”

This was not classic Rodgers.

He finished the game 13 of 21 for 167 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He was uneven. There was a lack of chemistry between him and the rest of the offense, which was to be expected. In an effort to protect Rodgers, he didn’t play a single snap in the preseason.

But considering he only played four snaps last season, it was a win to have him back on the field and, more importantly, to leave the field healthy.

“So many people helped me get here,” he said. “I’m thankful for my surgeon, my physical therapists, my loved ones, my friends and the coaching staff who helped me get back.”

This was the first time he played a full game with the likes of Hall and wide receiver Garrett Wilson, and at times it seemed like the offense wasn’t on the same page.

He wouldn’t use that as a crutch.

“That’s certainly an excuse,” he said. “I’m not going to use that. I don’t think we should.”

Rodgers cited Wilson’s missing on a fourth-and-1 slant route as an example of things he and the offense need to improve.

There were also moments when he seemed like himself.

When he led the team’s first scoring drive in the first quarter, he was free and easy, going 6 of 7, moving the chains four times and setting up Hall’s score.

But New York’s inability to get the run game going didn’t help Rodgers, who got more pressure and took some hits from the 49ers defense. He was sacked once, but was hit multiple times. He got back up each time.

That was something he talked about and wanted to avoid: getting hit.

Now he knows he can take one without it going wrong.

“I wanted to take a shot, you know, (feel) the physical side of it,” Rodgers said. “Once I threw a couple balls and took a shot, I felt so good. I felt like I was totally in the game.”

His first touchdown pass as a Jet came on a free play in the third quarter, when he took advantage of the Niners defense’s offside position and cashed in a pass to a speedy Allen Lazard running up the middle of the field.

The decision came 18 months after he moved to New York via a transfer.

Rodgers and the Jets haven’t done much right, but he doesn’t believe that will define him or the rest of the season as a quick turnaround is expected on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.

“No excuses, we have to play better,” he said. “I can play better. We can come back next week.”