Jets Quarterback Aaron Rodgers missed the team’s mandatory mini-camp because he had a pre-scheduled trip to Egypt, sources told SNY.
Rodgers attended every day of the team’s voluntary practices in Phase 1. He missed one week of Phase 2, but attended every organized team activity practice – also voluntary.
Rodgers originally put the trip together while he was recovering from his Achilles injury. It gave him something to look forward to during one of the lowest points of his career. He has long admired Egyptian culture and planned the visit for what would presumably be after the offseason programs.
The Jets were notified of the trip when the official minicamp dates were announced (June 11 and 12) and overlapped with Rodgers’ schedule. While it’s an unexcused absence, sources told SNY the team isn’t concerned about it affecting Rodgers’ season. They wanted him at minicamp, but understood how important the trip was to him.
As a source put it, Rodgers’ absence during the two-day mini-camp will have no impact on the Jets’ season.
Several players SNY reached out to had no problem with Rodgers missing minicamp, all citing his presence during the voluntary portion. Those same players were surprised that those outside One Jets Drive felt differently.
Hysteria over Rodgers’ whereabouts was largely fueled by the manner in which his absence was announced. From the Jets’ perspective: They didn’t want to set a precedent for players missing mandatory workouts for pre-scheduled travel (pass rusher Haason Reddick was the only other Jets player not present – He wants a new contract). While they were aware of Rodgers’ trip and understood why it was important to him, their public stance on the matter gave the impression that they were not and ignored Rodgers’ near-perfect attendance during the voluntary portion of the offseason program.
Mandatory minicamp, while mandatory, is simply two practices structured identically to the OTAs Rodgers attended.
While the Jets don’t yet know when Reddick will appear, Rodgers will be back for the start of training camp. He has shown little to no signs of the injury that cost him all but four snaps of the 2024 season. Rodgers threw a no-look, 30-yard touchdown to Garrett Wilson and a score of 59 yards to Xavier Gipson in the Jets’ final OTA media open.
