New York Jets offensive lineman Billy Turner has noted how much Aaron Rodgers is enjoying being away from the Green Bay Packers.
“The dude just shows up to work and he’s just so f—— happy right now,” Turner said of Rodgers during an appearance on SiriusXM’s Mad Dog Sports Radio, as shared by Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. “It’s very cool to witness and see because it doesn’t matter how long you’re in this profession, it’s the type of profession where regardless of how long you spend in it, you can always experience something new. And he’s experiencing something new for the first time in his career, and it’s cool to be part of and watch.”
Turner protected Rodgers from the 2019 season through the 2021 campaign before the 31-year-old followed the future Hall of Famer to the Jets this spring. While Turner spent this past season with the Denver Broncos, he hinted that his current QB1 didn’t love his final year with what was his NFL employer for nearly two decades.
“I don’t think the Green Bay Packers realized and understood what he had left in the tank,” Turner added about Rodgers. “He has everything left in the tank.”
Rodgers won back-to-back NFL Most Valuable Player Awards but then struggled to produce repeat performances during the 2022 season. According to ESPN stats, the 39-year-old finished the campaign ranked 26th among eligible players with a 39.3 adjusted QBR, and he tossed 12 interceptions across 17 games. Rodgers also dealt with a broken thumb on his throwing hand and a rib injury throughout what became the final months of his Green Bay tenure.
Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst reportedly “wanted an all-in Rodgers in March 2023 and knew he wouldn’t get it.” While Rodgers hasn’t yet had to do much other than receive standing ovations at local sporting events, he appears to be “all-in” on helping the Jets get back to the playoffs as soon as this coming January.
