That’s not what people are primarily worried about right now, though. They’re worried that a 40-year-old future Pro Football Hall of Famer, fresh off a torn Achilles tendon, might not be able to handle the physical side of the game.
Only those who have seen Rodgers in training camp and preseason know whether he is ready. This includes head coach Robert Saleh.
“I think he’s in great shape. I think he looks fantastic – not just mentally but physically,” Saleh said optimistically on Thursday. … “I think he’s been prepared, he’s prepared, and if he stays focused on what he’s going to do, he’s a professional, he’s been doing this for a long time – he’s not a 40-year-old quarterback. So I think he’ll do just fine.”
Nothing Rodgers or Saleh says will really change that uncertainty. Rodgers can only change history through his play. His first opportunity to do so will come Monday night against the defending NFC champions. And even if that game doesn’t go in their favor, Rodgers is urging patience.
“If we win, the headline will be, ‘We’re going to the Super Bowl.’ If we lose, it’ll be, ‘The old Jets,'” Rodgers said. “I think we have to get away from those side issues and trust that if the program is good enough in Week 1, it’s going to be good enough the rest of the season. So we have to trust the process, be great competitors, show up, be professional and show what they want on the field and let things go the way they go.”
Speaking of chips, Rodgers has one on his shoulder. He’s heard people openly question whether he can still make it at age 40, and while he hasn’t done himself any favors by being open about how much time he might have left in the NFL, he’s not going to give up in the face of doubt.
That’s just not how Rodgers, Super Bowl champion and four-time NFL MVP, is made.
“How can you not (play with a chip on your shoulder)?” Rodgers asked. “I’ve always kind of played with something on my shoulder. You have to manufacture things from time to time. But it kind of goes back to ‘prove it.’ Who would I have to prove it to? Only to myself. But I take a lot of pride in my performance, so when I step on the field I expect great things because I’ve done it before. So that’s kind of the standard I hold myself to.”
