Aaron Rodgers to make return on Monday Night Football for Jets versus 49ers

The NFL announced on Tuesday ahead of the full schedule release that the New York Jets will start the season against the 49ers on Monday Night Football. The first Monday Night Football game of the 2024 NFL season will be Aaron Rodgers‘ highly-anticipated return to the field following his recovery from Achilles injury.

Rodgers, 40, will start for the Jets one year after tearing his Achilles against the Buffalo Bills in Week 1. The injury, which knocked him out for the remainder of the season, occurred just four plays into the game. Though he was able to return to practice remarkably fast with a few weeks to go in the 2023 season, he and the Jets decided they would be pushing it to put him back on the field without the prospect of a postseason run.

New York will open the 2024 season on Monday Night Football against the San Francisco 49ers. The game is on Sept. 9 and it will be a road game for the Jets and Rodgers. Coming off of a 7-10 finish, they’ll take on the reigning NFC champions and young star Brock Purdy. The game is slated for broadcast on ABC, ESPN and ESPN+.

Historically, Rodgers has struggled in matchups against the 49ers. He’s 6-7 all-time against San Francisco, though all those were games he played for the Packers – not the Jets. His record against the 49ers includes an 0-4 record in playoff matchups.

No restrictions for Aaron Rodgers in New York Jets OTAs

When the Jets begin Phase 3 of OTAs this month, Rodgers will practice with no restrictions, according to head coach Robert Saleh. Saleh recently complimented Rodgers’ comeback from surgery.

“The guy can still sling it,” Saleh told reporters. “Obviously, he’s still working through his rehab, but there are no issues on the trajectory on which he’s going.”

The Jets did rework their quarterback depth chart since the end of the 2023 season. The team traded Zach Wilson, the No. 2 selection of the 2021 NFL Draft, to the Broncos for a seventh-round pick.

Meanwhile, the Jets also signed veteran Tyrod Taylor as the presumptive No. 2 quarterback. Taylor is in his 14th season in the NFL. They also drafted former Florida State star Jordan Travis in the fifth round of this year’s draft. Travis suffered a significant ankle injury late last season. He should be ready to start training camp this July.