Jets' Aaron Rodgers says he has swelling in his knee but isn't expected to miss Sunday's game

Aaron Rodgers is still feeling the effects of the beating he took in Sunday’s loss to the Broncos.

Rodgers revealed he has swelling in his knee during his Tuesday appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show.” Rodgers was hit 14 times against Denver and sacked five times. Afterward, he said both legs were bothering him.

“I’m feeling a little banged up,” Rodgers said Tuesday. “Took some shots. Knee’s a little swollen. But just kind of wear and tear Week 4.”

Robert Saleh said he didn’t anticipate Rodgers appearing on the Jets’ injury report when the team returns to practice on Wednesday. That could change if the swelling in Rodgers’ knee persists.

The Jets play the undefeated Minnesota VIkings on Sunday in London. They need to make sure they protect Rodgers against the NFL's leader in sacks (17). Poor pass protection was one of many things that cost the Jets against Denver.

The main talking points coming out of the game, however, was Rodgers’ cadence and his relationship with Saleh. Rodgers tried to put that to rest.

He said he and Saleh get along well. Rodgers went as far as defending Saleh and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett against  the criticism they received for the Jets’ sloppy, undisciplined play in the 10-9 defeat.

“Rob and I have a great relationship. We have since Day 1 when I got here,” Rodgers said. “We have text message conversations, threads that we’re in, conversations about a number of different topics outside of football. We've got a good friendship.”

The speculation that the star quarterback and the embattled coach don’t see eye-to-eye started in the Jets’ win over New England in Week 3. After a touchdown, Saleh went to hug Rodgers as he came to the sideline and Rodgers pushed him. The two downplayed that awkward exchange.

Noise of a potential rift grew louder following Sunday’s game. After the Jets committed five false start penalties, Saleh wondered whether they were “good enough or ready to handle the cadence,” which has been a Rodgers’ strength.

Rodgers was asked on Sunday about Saleh possibly wanting to dial back the cadence. Rodgers had no interest in doing that. On Tuesday, Rodgers said the way the question was posed to him “might not have been exactly what was said.”

Saleh clarified his remarks Monday. He said he was referring to the "operation" and that the Jets are “always going to push the envelope with cadence.”

It’s something that Rodgers has used his entire career. He said he “stole it” from his old teammate Brett Favre. Rodgers perfected it. He believes the last game was “an anomaly” since the Jets used various cadences in the first three games and were flagged for only one false start.

“It’s been an advantage for us,” Rodgers said. “We throw a touchdown in Week 1 on [an] offside on the silent count. It needs to be a weapon. In order for it to be a weapon, we got to stay onside. I don’t know why Robert or even Hackett, nobody deserves any crap for that except for the players. We’ve got to make sure we’re staying onside.

“I don’t think it’s an issue. It hasn’t been an issue in practice. It’s just another talking point for outside the building. It hurt us in some situations, so we’ve got to be better. Cadence is the cadence is the cadence.”

Rodgers believes this game was “an outlier” overall and wishes everyone would have “a little perspective.” He gave the Broncos’ defense credit for disrupting the Jets.

One thing Rodgers would like to see is the Jets handling the rainy conditions better. He said when he played for Green Bay teams would “start to quit” in the third or fourth quarter because of the cold, snow and wind and the Packers would put teams away. Rodgers said the Jets should be used to playing in what he described as “classic New York weather.”

“When it’s crappy weather like that, we’ve got to embrace it and make it our own advantage,” Rodgers said. “It’s damp and cold and damn near miserable. You just got to embrace that and push through it. I just don’t think, mentally, all of us were able to really embrace the conditions and play a little better.”

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.