Aaron Rodgers takes in Yankees game after returning to New York Jets OTAs

Aaron Rodgers is back to his old quarterbacking self. He practiced with the Jets on Monday afternoon, then headed to Yankee Stadium to watch the home team take on the Mariners.

And then he was back in Florham Park, N.J., Tuesday for another OTA session with the Jets. Since he signed with the team a year ago, Rodgers has made it a habit to watch the other pro sports teams in the area. He’s checked out the NBA, NHL and now MLB. This time, he received an invitation to sit in Marcus Stroman’s box. Stroman, a pitcher, is in his first season with the Yankees. He was on the mound Monday night.

"Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers is [at the Yankees game], as a guest of Marcus Stroman."

"Wonder what he's talking about right there?"

"Could be anything." pic.twitter.com/tNCyFg2eqh

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 20, 2024

Rodgers was one of several celebrities at Yankee Stadium

The Jets quarterback wasn’t the only celebrity in the house. Rolling Stone’s guitarist Ronnie Wood and Flavor Flav also were at the game. Stroman’s close friend Mike Seander also sat in the box next to Rodgers. Seander was a teammate of Stroman’s on the Duke baseball team. The rapper goes by the stage name, Mike. Alas, the Bronx Bombers lost to Seattle. But it wasn’t Stroman’s fault. He pitched 7.1 innings and hit the showers with the lead. But in the ninth, Seattle scored four to take the 5-4 advantage. It held in the bottom of the ninth.

Rodgers was back to football business Tuesday afternoon. He’s participating in everything. Jets coach Robert Saleh said doctors have placed no limits on the quarterback. He’s eight months removed from Achilles surgery.

“He looks good, man,” Saleh said in a press availability. “The arm strength is still there. It’s really just re-acclimating to everything. We’re trying a bunch of new stuff, too. Again, just trying to evolve within the offense.”

The following clip shows Rodgers doing some running drills.

Aaron Rodgers hits the practice field at Jets OTAs pic.twitter.com/yPe5SUTLFj

— Jets Videos (@snyjets) May 21, 2024

NFL banking on Jets being big primetime draw

Rodgers returns to the NFL as the oldest starting quarterback in the league. And the NFL knows he’ll be a huge draw, even if he is coming off major surgery.

The Jets-49ers game will be the first Monday Night Football offering when the season kicks off in September. Rodgers might be triggered at the start of the game, considering that he ruptured his Achilles four offensive snaps into last year’s season opener.

The Jets will play in a league-high six prime-time games. That’s not bad for a team that went 7-10.