Jets' Aaron Rodgers worried about winning, not concerned about the target share among his receivers 

PITTSBURGH — Aaron Rodgers was reunited with Davante Adams this week in an all-in move by the Jets that adds excitement, explosiveness and more intrigue to this already dizzying season.

Adams is a game-changing receiver, especially when Rodgers is his quarterback. But the Jets already have dynamic young playmakers Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson to feed. And there’s only one football.

So how is it going to work? Rodgers bristled when asked about keeping everyone happy.

“But it's about winning,” Rodgers said. “Those guys are going to get theirs. The most important thing is winning, though. I throw it to the open guy.

"Bringing Davante in, obviously if he's healthy and out there, he's going to get opportunities, but the way the defense plays dictates where the ball goes.”

Rodgers has made a Hall-of-Fame career out of spreading the ball around and involving everyone as much as possible. Adams' pre-existing relationship with the quarterback could make him Rodgers’ favorite target immediately, though.

Allen Lazard’s Green Bay past with Rodgers also has helped him. Lazard already has more catches (26), receiving yards (354) and touchdowns (five) through six games than he did all of last season. Lazard dropped four passes against Minnesota in London and Rodgers kept throwing to him because of the trust factor.

It’s even more true with Adams, who played eight years with Rodgers in Green Bay.

They see the offense the same way. They know each other’s tendencies, likes and wants. Adams knows what every Rodgers’ hand gesture, head nod and glance means. They were a special pairing before, and feel they can be again.

Adams, who missed his last three games with the Raiders with what was listed as a hamstring injury, will make his Jets’ debut Sunday night against the Steelers in Pittsburgh. Rodgers expects he and Adams to be “on the same page,” despite not playing together since 2021.

The Jets (2-4) hoped Rodgers and Wilson would be Rodgers-Adams 2.0, but it’s an ongoing process.

They have been more in sync lately, however. Wilson’s 22 catches over the last two games lead the NFL. The Jets want that chemistry to grow and Wilson to continue to develop. They also believe Adams will enhance the offense, take some attention away from Wilson and fix some of the Jets’ recurring issues that have led to huge change and turnover for the franchise.

Robert Saleh was fired last week and replaced by interim coach Jeff Ulbrich. Play-calling duties were stripped from Nathaniel Hackett and given to Todd Downing.

Adams is in. Mike Williams could be out. But despite missing two practices this week for “personal reasons,” Ulbrich said Williams would play on Sunday.

Wilson’s usage and production will be the one most scrutinized, though.

Adams didn’t request a trade to the Jets to take targets away from Wilson. He wanted to play with Rodgers again and feel impactful, something he wasn't feeling with the Raiders.

“Not every game is going to be a 100-yard game or 150-, 200-yard game,” Adams said, “but I want to feel like I can impact the game every time I touch the field.

“The ball’s going to be spread around,” he added. “We got a quarterback that likes to sling it. It’s a lot of meat on the bone. We’re not going to be sitting here fighting over that. I’m trying to make Garrett better. I’m trying to make [Lazard] better, and they’re trying to do the same for me.”

Adams said he and Wilson spoke last year about wishing they could play together. Another wish came true for Adams.

“I’m a fan of his game,” Adams said. “The feeling’s mutual on his side too. Here we are now. We just have to maximize this and take advantage of it.”

Rodgers referred to Adams as “somebody that’s been at the zenith of his profession” and believes everyone will benefit from his presence on and off the field.

The Jets could be a nightmare for defenses. If teams play their safeties deep to prevent long passes, it should open the running game for Hall and underneath passes that could lead to explosive plays with Wilson playing more in the slot.

“I think Breece should be real happy,” Rodgers said. “I think the line should be real happy and I think G [Garrett Wilson] should be real happy.”

If Adams helps the Jets win, that’s all that matters.

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.