Jets QB Aaron Rodgers putting Egypt trip behind him, focusing on New Orleans and Super Bowl

NEW YORK — Last month, Aaron Rodgers created quite a stir when he missed two days of Jets mandatory minicamp.

Rodgers missed the sessions due to a preplanned vacation to Egypt.

Finally, on Wednesday, the first day of training camp practices, Rodgers addressed his unexcused absence and how the Jets fined him more than $50,000 for being a no-show.

“It’s obviously more of an issue outside of the building than there was inside the building,” Rodgers said. “Robert (Saleh) and I are great. We had a great conversation throughout the offseason. [We] had a fun one last night in his office till later on. It is what it is.

“I’m an adult. I knew what I was getting into. I knew the fine was coming and also knew how much I wanted to be in Egypt.”

Rodgers told reporters he planned the Egypt trip for June 9-10, thinking the Jets would be done with their offseason program based on their 2023 offseason schedule. However, the Jets canceled their mandatory minicamp that year partly because they reported for training camp early due to playing in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game in early August.

The story of Rodgers missing the two days of mandatory minicamp became a firestorm around media circles. However, the four-time NFL MVP downplayed the importance of mandatory minicamp and basically said it’s an extension of OTA practices.

“It’s not the same as it was in 2005 or 2010,” Rodgers said. “The schedule is an OTA day, It’s labeled as many camps.

“So you can try and get anybody who hasn’t been around to be there. I had a great talk with Robert. Obviously, he wanted me to be there and I knew the consequences if I wasn’t going to be there. The reaction is what it is.”

Saleh told reporters that he and Rodgers had cleared the air about his unexcused absence from the minicamp and it appears both sides are ready to move forward.

“I’ve had dialogue with Aaron throughout the summer,” Saleh said. “I got some cool pictures from him.

“[We] had our normal conversations. Nothing has been broken, but the minicamp stuff, we talked beforehand, so we are on the same page with everything that has happened. ”

The Jets again enter training camp with high expectations, partly because of Rodgers’ return.

A year ago, after acquiring Rodgers in a trade with the Packers, some analysts expected the Jets to contend for a Super Bowl in a loaded AFC.

Rodgers’ Achilles tear four plays into his Jets debut nixed all hopes, and the team finished 7-10 for the second consecutive season. Although there’s less hoopla this year, the Jets are expected to contend for the AFC East crown.

However, Rodgers’ aspirations go further than winning division championships. That’s why he has been a big part of setting a certain standard for the team.

“I think it is important that you have to bring the energy, the enthusiasm every single day,” Rodgers said. “I think you have to set the standard by the way you show up every day. You have to be active in meetings, you have to be attentive. You have to be tapped into the energy of the team.

“The goal is New Orleans. That’s got to be the focus, got to be the manifestation through our words and our actions. Everything has to be intentional that we do on the field, in the meeting rooms.

“There’s a lot of room for fun and hanging with the guys and joking and stuff at the hotel. But when we are practicing and in drill work, it needs to be intentional.”

Rodgers didn’t mention the city of New Orleans by accident. He knows Super Bowl LIX will be held at Caesars Superdome on Feb. 9.

The Jets will first have to contend in a loaded AFC that features the back-to-back Super Bowl champion Chiefs. In addition, the Bills have won the AFC East four years in a row, and the Dolphins have made the playoffs in back-to-back seasons.

With the hopes of contending for a Super Bowl, the Jets fortified their offensive line during the offseason by signing left tackle Tyron Smith and left guard John Simpson. Right tackle Morgan Moses landed in New York via trade.

They also added wide receiver Mike Williams and selected Malachi Corley in the third round of the 2024 NFL draft. Gang Green hopes the return of Rodgers, along with the additions they’ve made, will help its offense improve from 31st in yards (268.6) and 29th in points scored (15.8).

“The beauty is every single year, there are eight to 12 teams, maybe probably less,” Rodgers said. “But eight to 12 teams that can actually do it. We’re one of those eight to 12.”