Aaron Rodgers watched Zach Wilson’s public struggles in New York last season.
He saw the former BYU quarterback and No. 2 overall pick get benched twice and then deflect responsibility after a loss. Rodgers could sympathize with some of it, particularly the scrutiny that comes along with playing the league’s most important position.
Now after a few weeks of training camp as Wilson’s teammate, Rodgers is giving his assessment of where Wilson is at in his development.
“It is a tough position,” Rodgers told reporters this week. “You are the guy. You deal with all the stuff last year. His play on the field, the frustration, some of the stuff that he said. The stuff that was said about him — which is probably the most difficult — by his teammates and by some of you all. And now he has the chance to reset the whole thing and take back the narrative. I think he has done a great job.”
The reviews of Wilson this summer have been more positive. He is no longer the starter for the New York Jets since Rodgers came in. His future with the team is still unclear. But Rodgers said he looks like the player that once threw 33 touchdowns in a single season in Provo.
“He has played really, really well in camp,” Rodgers said. “You guys have watched it. He has made a number of great throws. He looks confident and I think his fundamentals are improving. He is throwing the ball on time.
“Because he has all the other intangibles. He can run. He can move. He can throw on the move. He can throw no-look passes. It is just a good reset for him. And I think he will look back years from now and be really thankful for this time to grow. ... It is going to set him up for a nice long career in the league.”
Wilson has complimented Rodgers several times since the trade. It was well known before Rodgers came to New York that Wilson looked up to Rodgers growing up.
“Of course I’d wish things had gone differently in the past two years and I would have played amazing and everything,” Wilson said earlier in training camp. “But I truly believe everything happens for a reason. And Aaron knows this, but he is somebody I’ve looked up to since I can remember playing football. I am very appreciative of him and how much he is willing to help me. But he doesn’t really need to be that vocal. And he honestly, truly is an amazing friend and obviously such an amazing quarterback.”
Rodgers is going into his 19th season in the NFL and said he intends to be with the Jets for several more years. But he spoke highly of his relationship with Wilson.
“As much as anything, I hope this time for him is a deep inhale and exhale,” Rodgers said of Wilson. “That he can really take a breath and pause. Sit with the disappointment and frustration of last year. And then channel it. I feel like he has. But just re-channel it to a positive and focus on the opportunity in front of him to learn with a guy who loves him and cares about him. Wants him to be great and wants him to do incredible things every day and get better. Just go be himself and have this be a chance to reset. I think he has done it.”
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