Aaron Rodgers Rips Report, Claims Assassination of Zach Wilson's Character

Aaron Rodgers took issue with a recent report in The Athletic, which claimed that fellow New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson was reluctant to step back into a starting role, during an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show on Tuesday.

Dianna Russini and Zack Rosenblatt, citing anonymous sources, reported on Monday that Wilson was apprehensive about returning as the starter because of a perceived injury risk. Rodgers, they said, reached out to Wilson in "an effort to advise him to resume the starter role." McAfee referenced the report minutes into the four-time MVP's appearance on the show and asked if Rodgers had met with the third-year QB about his desire to play in New York.

"When you use sources, whether intentional or unintentional, to try to assassinate someone's character like that report does for Zach, I have a real hard time with that. I really do," Rodgers said from the ESPN studio.

Newsweek reached out to The Athletic via email for comment.

The Jets are 4-8 and losers of their last five games. Wilson, the former No. 2 overall draft pick, was New York's starter after Rodgers went down in Week 1 with a torn Achilles tendon. But after nine starts—in which he threw five touchdowns compared to six interceptions—head coach Robert Saleh made a change under center.

Journeyman Tim Boyle has started the last two weeks for the Jets. Boyle, who was cut on Tuesday, was benched during Sunday's 13-8 loss to the Atlanta Falcons in favor of the recently signed Trevor Siemian.

The Jets are 30th in points per game and 31st in yards gained this season.

Russini said on X, formerly Twitter, on Monday that the Jets wanted to make a switch at QB ahead of their next game against the Houston Texans (7-5), though Wilson may not want to return to his old job as the starter. In a follow-up to the initial report, she said that "Zach Wilson made clear to multiple members of the organization... of his apprehension to start due to perceived injury risk."

Rodgers told McAfee that members of the organization speaking to reporters anonymously need to be stopped privately and that there is no place for such leaks. The 40-year-old said that suggesting Wilson does not want to play makes it seem like he's "giving a middle finger to the organization."

Wilson has yet to address reporters this week.

"I don't want to speak for him," Rodgers told McAfee. "Because he's gonna get a chance this week to speak. And I'm gonna let him speak. I'll tell you that I love the kid. And I've spent a lot of time with him. I think he's an amazing young man. He is young. He's in his early 20s. And I've had a blast spending time with him.

"He's gone through a lot of [expletive] in the last three years. And he's got every right to be frustrated and disappointed about it. I think he's done a good job of standing up and taking accountability this year when it's been his part to do it."

Saleh declined to name a starting quarterback during a press conference on Monday. The third-year head coach insisted to reporters that The Athletic's report about Wilson not wanting to play was not the case. Saleh said Wilson came to him Monday expressing a desire to start. It is not clear if Wilson approached his coach because of the report.

"If he was reluctant to play, guys, he wouldn't be here," Saleh told reporters. "The young man wants the ball. He wants to start. He believes he's the best quarterback in the room and the best quarterback for this team and the guy who gives us the best chance to win.

"And I'll tell you guys the same thing I told him: I appreciate it. I appreciate the fact that he wants to play. I'm just not there yet [with a decision]."

Later in the day, according to ESPN, Saleh said during his weekly spot on the Michael Kay Show that it is "conceivable" that Wilson made a comment to a teammate about not wanting to return to the lineup.