In Jets' bad loss, Aaron Rodgers gives them a taste of what a good quarterback could be

 SANTA CLARA, Calif.

The Jets lost a football game, badly, on Monday night. But there at least were flashes of the potential for better things ahead.

Why? Because they appear to have a real quarterback now.

Aaron Rodgers was far from his vintage future Hall of Fame self in a 32-19 loss to the 49ers at Levi’s Stadium.

Not at age 40, not coming off an Achilles tendon tear and not after having failed to play a full game since the end of the 2022 season.

He likely never will be peak Aaron Rodgers again.

For now, though, it was enough that he made it through the opener intact, and that he was better than the Jets quarterbacks who performed in his place last season.

Yes, the Jets must be better than they were against the defending NFC champions, especially after a shockingly sloppy performance on defense. Much better.

But again: They now can reasonably expect competent quarterback play. It’s not everything, but it’s something.

Rodgers finished 13-for-27 for 167 yards, including a 36-yard touchdown pass to Allen Lazard, and an interception.

“No excuses,” he said afterward. “We have to play better. I have to play better.”

Coach Robert Saleh said he thought Rodgers “looked fine” but was undermined by the Jets’ failure to get into a rhythm on offense.

The running game sputtered — Breece Hall had 16 carries for 54 yards — and the Jets had only 49 plays to the 49ers’ 70 and only 21:20 in possession time.

That partly was a function of the 49ers having their way with the Jets’ defense, even in the absence of star running back Christian McCaffrey.

But it also was a function of the Jets’ offense sputtering to life only on occasion. With Rodgers in the game, they fashioned one drive of more than six plays.

“We were just bad on first and second down for a lot of the game,” Rodgers said. “A lot to correct, but overall I felt good about our guys.”

Last season, the fourth snap of the opener doomed Rodgers. He dropped back to pass and ended up with a torn left Achilles tendon.

This season, the fourth snap was not quite that bad but still wasn’t good — through no fault of the quarterback.

Rodgers completed his first pass as a Jet, a shovel pass to Hall for a 2-yard gain. But the 49ers’ Fred Warner punched it out of Hall’s grasp and Maliek Collins recovered.

Then, on the Jets’ third drive, fans finally got their first full taste of the Rodgers experience.

Three times, Rodgers completed passes to Garrett Wilson to convert on third downs, the first a leaping grab for 16 yards by the star receiver.

By the time Hall scored on a 3-yard run with 3:51 left in the first quarter, Rodgers was 7-for-9 for 64 yards and looked to be in complete control.

When Hall reached the end zone, Rodgers pumped his arm in celebration — and perhaps relief that the nightmare of last season was behind him.

The touchdown drive covered 70 yards in 12 plays over 7:07 and had to reassure Rodgers and everyone else who works for or roots for the Jets.

But it was 23-7 after a long 49ers drive to open the second half, followed by Rodgers throwing a pass intended for Wilson that was tipped by Deommodore Lenoir and intercepted by Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles.

Rodgers later hit Lazard for his first touchdown pass as a Jet after the 49ers were caught offside and Rodgers had a free shot. It was not nearly enough.

As disappointed as Rodgers was, he was able to appreciate his return.

“It’s been a while,” he said. “Felt great. I have a lot of gratitude just to be back in pads. So many people that helped me get to this spot. I’m thankful for my surgeon, my [personal trainers], loved ones, friends, the training staff who helped me get back.

“It was cool. I wanted to take a shot and feel the physicality of it. Once I threw a couple of balls and took a shot, I felt like I was into the game.”

As for the football part, Rodgers added, “There were moments, for sure. There were moments that felt really good. But not sustained.“

Hall praised Rodgers for his even keel in the huddle and for his support after the game.

Hall said he apologized to Rodgers for his poor play and Rodgers told him, “It’s going to be a long season, bro. I’m not worried about you. You’ll be fine.”

Wilson said of Rodgers’ return, “It was awesome. It was great to see him out there, to hear him in the huddle.

“We’re going to get better. But as far as seeing him out there, him being healthy, staying healthy throughout the whole game, it was a good feeling.”

Good, it was. Good enough? We’ll see.

By Neil Best

neil.best@newsday.com@sportswatch

Neil Best first worked at Newsday in 1982, returned in 1985 after a detour to Alaska and has been here since, specializing in high schools, college basketball, the NFL and most recently sports media and business.