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Rich Cimini, ESPN Staff Writer
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers is hobbled by a low ankle sprain, but he’s expected to play next Monday night when they face the Buffalo Bills for a share of first place in the AFC East.
Rodgers will be evaluated, coach Robert Saleh said Monday morning, adding, “All the preliminary stuff says he’ll be fine.”
The 40-year-old Rodgers took another beating Sunday in London, where the Jets fell to the Minnesota Vikings, 23-17. He was sacked three times and took 11 quarterback hits, bringing the total to 25 hits over the past two games — both losses. He hurt his left ankle in the third quarter, when his leg got caught under a pile and his body bent backward. He stayed in the game.
Afterward, Rodgers said half-jokingly that a lot of body parts “made some noises” in the game. The previous week, he emerged with a swollen left knee.
“The reality is, if you throw the ball over 50 times, the quarterback is going to get hit. Period,” Saleh said.
With no help from the running game, and hurt by two Rodgers interceptions in the first quarter, the Jets fell behind, 17-0. The four-time MVP dropped back 57 times out of 71 plays, exposing himself to the blitz-heavy Vikings. Rodgers (29-of-54, 244 yards) nearly pulled off a miraculous comeback, but his third interception, tying a career high, ended their final drive in the last minute.
The Jets’ offense appears broken, having scored only two touchdowns over the past two games. Saleh refused to put the blame on the offensive line.
“I don’t want to sit here and say the O-line isn’t playing well enough,” he said. “We’re just not putting ourselves in position to be efficient and play football. We’re having to play catch up against two really good defenses that pressure the quarterback at a high level. We basically fell into the teeth of their defense.”
After Sunday’s games, the Jets ranked 22nd in scoring and Rodgers was 20th in Total QBR (48.8). Saleh said he has no plans to shake up the offense. Coordinator Nathaniel Hackett will remain the playcaller.
The Jets (2-3) have dropped two straight after a promising start, but they’re only one game behind the Bills (3-2) in the division. It sets up a showdown on Monday night at MetLife Stadium. Saleh insisted he’s confident the Jets will get it turned around.
“I’m not panicked,” he said. “Nobody in the building is panicked.”
In other injury news, nickelback Michael Carter II will have an evaluation. He injured his hamstring in the pregame warmups, played one defensive snap and left the game.