Aaron Rodgers, on his weekly appearance on ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Show” on Tuesday, attacked the report that stated Zach Wilson was hesitant to play for the Jets Sunday against the Texans.
Rodgers, who’s been out since the season opener with a ruptured left Achilles tendon, vehemently defended Wilson, the Jets’ third-year quarterback, calling the report “chickens–t at its core.’’
Rodgers was responding to a story reported on Monday by The Athletic stating that the Jets want to start Wilson in Sunday’s home game against the Texans but Wilson, who’s been benched for the past two games, is reluctant to play.
“When you use sources and whether intentional or unintentional try to assassinate someone’s character like that report does for Zach, I have a hard time with that,” Rodgers said. “You’re basically saying that this kid is quitting on the team and doesn’t want to play and is giving the middle finger to the organization.
“What is your impetus, what is your motivation to try and bury someone like that?” Rodgers said, referring to whoever the anonymous source was for the story. “That’s a problem with the organization. We need to get to the bottom of whatever this is coming from and put a stop to it privately, because there’s no place in a winning culture where this is not the only time. There’s been a bunch of other leaks.
“I think it’s chickens–t at its core, and I think it has no place in a winning organization.’’
Rodgers wouldn’t say whether or not he spoke with Wilson about the issue, and about whether he was, indeed, reluctant to play Sunday.
Jets head coach Robert Saleh on Monday told reporters that he’s “not there yet’’ on whom he’ll name the starting quarterback Sunday, but he did say that Wilson came to him on Monday and said he “wants the ball.’’