Jets QB Aaron Rodgers believes he's '98%' ready for season after successful practice

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Aaron Rodgers led the Jets’ offense on back-to-back touchdown drives late in practice Tuesday. It’s how he did it that boosted his confidence about where he is physically and mentally.

Rodgers made some brilliant throws. But the 40-year-old quarterback, coming back from a torn left Achilles tendon, showed some mobility. He kept plays alive by rolling out and moving around in the pocket and even ran for first down when everything broke down.

“Plays like today make me feel like I’m ready to go,” Rodgers said.

Rodgers had a special procedure to speed up his recovery and held out hope that he could return last season. He did go through some practices late in the year, serving as the Jets’ scout team quarterback.

When training camp started three weeks ago, Rodgers said he felt about 95% back, but he still needed to feel the rush and make plays on the move. Although Rodgers said he tries not to think about his Achilles when he’s playing, he checked some important and necessary boxes on Tuesday

“I only think about it after a play like that,” Rodgers said. “OK, put that in the bank. Now I’m 98%.”

The next big step for Rodgers is getting hit, which may not happen until Sept. 9 when the Jets open the season in San Francisco.

The Jets have two preseason games left. While no official decision has been declared on whether Rodgers will play, it doesn’t seem as if the four-time MVP feels the need to play.

“Preseason is not real football,” Rodgers said.

Rodgers, who is entering his 20th NFL season, was talking about how differently coaches and teams treat the preseason now than earlier in his career.

“Nobody likes to play anymore, and nobody likes to show anything either,” Rodgers said.

Robert Saleh scheduled three joint practices with the Jets’ preseason opponents to help Rodgers and the team prepare for Week 1. Rodgers was held out of last week’s joint practice with Washington because it was raining. The Jets didn’t want to risk injury.

Rodgers is expected to play in Thursday’s joint practice with the Panthers in Carolina. He hopes the Jets don’t just play a vanilla offense because they don’t want to risk having anything on tape.

Rodgers loved Tuesday’s practice because the Jets got to run more of their offense. “Our offense that day against Washington, that’s not our offense,” Rodgers said. “We didn’t run any of our stuff. You watch today’s practice and watch that practice — well which one is it? Well it’s this one, you just saw it. That’s the offense.”

Rodgers said he has made some “side-cutting comments from time to time” to Saleh and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett to let him run more of the plays they will run in the regular season. Rodgers understands the competitive nature, but he also feels they need to run some staples and see what they can run off those.

This was the Jets’ longest practice of camp with the lengthiest team periods. Saleh said the first and second teams played the equivalent of three-quarters of a game. They haven’t done it this way in previous years, but Saleh believes the more practice reps will be beneficial in the long run.

“That was a good one,” Saleh said. “We didn’t flinch. So we’re in pretty good shape.”

These practices are important for Rodgers and his recovery too. Saleh said he and Rodgers have had preliminary discussions about the preseason. Saleh said they will do what’s best for the organization. Keeping Rodgers healthy is what’s best.

“It’s going to be made with a global thought,” Saleh said. “I’ve got a lot of thoughts. I don’t want to get into all the details of what’s going through my mind with regards to play him or not play him, but we’ll definitely have a really lengthy discussion on whether or not it’s the right thing to do for the organization.

“I just look at whether or not it’s meaningful. Does it help us win in Week 1? If we all feel like it will help us win in Week 1 and perform our best in Week 1 then we’ll make the decision accordingly.”

By Al Iannazzone

al.iannazzone@newsday.comAl_Iannazzone

Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.