Aaron Rodgers has a message for all those Green Bay Packers fans Tuesday morning who are doubting the team and Jordan Love.
“Just take some deep breaths,” Rodgers said on “The Pat McAfee Show” after being asked about his former team’s play and his successor’s performance Monday night in a 17-13 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. “Just trust this kid. He’s a great kid. He cares about it. He’s going to be around for a while and they’re going to get it fixed.”
The comment somewhat hearkened back to when Rodgers famously told Packers fans to “relax” in 2014 after the team began the season 1-2.
Rodgers was in his seventh season as the starting quarterback and fans were getting restless after a loss to the Detroit Lions. All the Packers did after he made that statement was win their next four games and ran off victories in nine of their next 10 games. They were also minutes from playing in the Super Bowl that season if not for a collapse in the NFC Championship game against the Seattle Seahawks.
Aaron Rodgers says ‘growing pains’ are part of process for Jordan Love and Green Bay Packers
No one is saying the Packers at 2-3 heading into their bye will make that kind of run in 2023. Love and the Packers clearly have a lot to correct.
But Rodgers probably understands the team’s situation more than anyone. He too was 2-3 in his first year as the starter in 2008 and was replacing a future Hall of Famer.
“Listen, there’s going to be growing pains,” Rodgers said when breaking down the 24-year-old’s three-interception night. “I had growing pains. We all go through it. My first year starting, my fourth year (in the league), just like him.
“He’s going to be just fine. They got a young team. He’s a great kid. They’ve had some injuries.”
Injuries have indeed been a significant storyline around the Packers’ offensive struggles early in the season, with key players like All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari, Pro Bowl running back Aaron Jones and explosive second-year wide receiver Christian Watson missing substantial time.
But inconsistency (a 55.6% season completion percentage) and interceptions (six in the last two games) from Love as well as a sporadic run game and slow starts as a whole — the Packers were outscored 54-6 in the first halves of the last three games — are glaring issues.
Aaron Rodgers says he has confidence in Jordan Love
The four-time MVP isn’t worried about Love and compared the situation to Zach Wilson in New York, the often-criticized young quarterback who has had a rollercoaster of a career with the Jets, to say the least, but has stepped up in Rodgers’ absence.
Rodgers, who continues to rehab his torn left Achilles that he suffered in the Jets’ first game, also said he sent Love another text message after Monday night’s game to offer encouragement.
“I love Jordan,” said Rodgers, who has been communicating often with Love this season after games. “He’s a great kid. He’s shown a lot of things early in the season. He’s shown the ability to throw the ball downfield. He’s very athletic. He’s had some really nice look-offs. Just a number of plays, I think the average fan (can see that) this guy can really play. As we’ve seen in New York and Jersey with our young stud, week to week, the narrative can really change. …
“That’s the overreaction of our league. The important thing as a quarterback is just keeping your confidence, not get into the (bull—-).
“There’s going to be ups and downs in your career. There’s going to be ups and downs in your season. You just got to keep pushing through it. You got to inspire your teammates.”
Packers could have been more aggressive after big play to Christian Watson, Rodgers says
Rodgers touched on some of the key moments of the game, specifically when the Packers failed to score a touchdown and settled for a field goal after Watson’s big 77-yard reception that put the ball at the 3-yard line in the third quarter. From there, the Packers ran two running plays that netted a 1-yard loss and then Love had an incomplete pass to Romeo Doubs.
“Maybe they weren’t as aggressive as they could have been,” Rodgers said, also comparing it to the Jets’ games this past week.
Rodgers credited Love for his throw to Watson on that big play and acknowledged that, had Watson not been taken down by a horse collar, “that’s a whole different ballgame. ”
“That was a big game-changing play,” Rodgers said.
