Aaron Rodgers watches the sidelines as the New York Jets fall to the Cleveland Browns in the Hall of Fame Game
The 39-year-old QB seems to be offloading some burden, cracking jokes with teammates and often sporting a grin.
However, Rodgers had no role to play, and he sat on the sidelines as his Jets suffered a loss in the NFL's traditional season opener, the Hall of Fame Game, against the Cleveland Browns.
Rodgers was exhausted by Thursday night's 21-16 defeat, with Cleveland rebounding in the second half to claim their first win of the 2023 preseason.
With most stars absent, including Rodgers and Browns starting QB Deshaun Watson, the stage was set for rotational players and edge defenders to seize the moment.
Rookie Browns QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson seized the opportunity, starting the entire second half and scoring two touchdowns, narrowing the race for the backup QB role within the team.
With Rodgers sidelined, attention shifted towards Jets QB Zach Wilson, who's had a less than impressive tenure with the team since his number one overall draft pick in 2021.
Wilson, celebrating his 24th birthday, completed 3 of 5 passes for 65 yards and set up the first score of the game with a 57-yard pass, which earned him a spot in the Draft process. Quite the accolade. Wide Receiver Malik Taylor had a 1-yard completion.
However, it was the fifth-round pick Thompson-Robinson who stole the show with two touchdowns in the second half, including a 22-yard touchdown pass to Austin Watkins Jr., which put Cleveland ahead with about nine minutes remaining in the game.
The game was halted in the fourth quarter when some lights in the Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium went out, plunging the field into darkness.
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski and Jets coach Robert Saleh met with officials in the middle of the field to discuss the problem, which caused a 15-minute delay before the resumption of the game.
Additional Insights:
Zach Wilson displayed promising signs in his brief Hall of Fame Game appearance by completing 3 of 5 passes for 65 yards and setting up the initial score of the game with a 57-yard throw, signaling progress after his disappointing tenure since being the third overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft.
Rookies Dorian Thompson-Robinson of Cleveland and Zach Wilson of the New York Jets showcased their talents in the Hall of Fame Game, setting the stage for an intriguing competition between the two quarterbacks for the backup role in their respective teams.
The Browns' victory in the Hall of Fame Game signaled a promising start to the 2023 preseason, offering a glimpse of the team's potential depth in the absence of Deshaun Watson and several other key players.
