Jets won't be getting 1 last shot at revenge on Aaron Rodgers in preseason matchup

The New York Jets had a chance in 2025 to get one last laugh over Aaron Rodgers, the future Hall of Fame quarterback the franchise hoped would change their fortunes when they acquired him from the Green Bay Packers in 2023.

Instead, Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers were the ones who managed to get the win in what was arguably the Jets' most competitive game last season, a 34-32 nail-biter that ended on a 60-yard Chris Boswell game-winning field goal.

New York and Pittsburgh are seeing each other once again this week, this time in a preseason tilt at Acrisure Stadium. Unfortunately for the Jets, they won't be getting one last shot at Rodgers ahead of what he has confirmed will be his final NFL season.

The Steelers will not be playing either of their veteran quarterbacks Friday night, opting to sit both Rodgers and backup Mason Rudolph in favor of their young guns.

Aaron Rodgers will not suit up against the New York Jets in preseason matchup

Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy spoke with reporters after practice on Wednesday and revealed his decision to sit both Rodgers and Rudolph for Friday night's preseason tilt with the Jets. Rodgers hasn't played in a preseason game since his time with the Jets in 2023.

McCarthy added he had "seen what he needed to see" from their long time back up, Rudolph, via PennLive's Nick Farabaugh, opting to hand the reins to second-year quarterback Will Howard and rookie Drew Allar.

Howard will get the starting nod over Allar, and the two young Steelers quarterbacks will likely each see a whole half of playing time.

That's surely a disappointment for some Jets fans, who may have been looking forward to releasing some pent-up aggression on Rodgers for the way things flamed out in New York, but it seems 2025 may have been the team's best shot at revenge.

Regardless, it will be young quarterback against young quarterback on Friday evening, as a lot of the indications out of Jets camp this week are that starter Geno Smith is still dealing with some discomfort in his sore foot. Rookie Cade Klubnik seems likely to start.

If that ends up being the case, it will be Klubnik against Howard to start Week 2 of the preseason for the Jets, with two young quarterbacks looking to prove themselves as possible future options.

Hopefully, Klubnik ends up playing more than he did in the Jets' first preseason game, when Aaron Glenn opted to pull him after only two possessions.

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