Leonard Williams drops truth bomb about Aaron Rodgers after brutal pick-6

When the NY Jets traded for Aaron Rodgers in the spring of 2023, they believed they had added one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history. More importantly, they believed they had added a QB who was still among the best at his position in the league.

And maybe that might have been true. Maybe pre-Achilles tear Rodgers was still one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. Unfortunately, the reality is that 2024 Rodgers is a shell of his former self.

He's washed. Jets fans know it, the Jets as a team seem to know it, and opposing players have begun to catch on. Count former Jets defensive lineman Leonard Williams among those who have become privy to this new over-the-hill version of Rodgers.

Williams jumped in front of an errant Rodgers throw in the second quarter, taking a 92-yard pick-six to the house in a play that would ultimately serve as the turning point for his team's eventual 26-21 come-from-behind win in Week 13.

When asked about the play after the game, Williams made it clear what he thinks about present-day Aaron Rodgers.

"I think he’s an older guy. Doesn’t want to take big hits like that anymore. So sometimes if you feel the guy coming full speed at him, he’s going to chuck it and duck. We had him in a situation where [coach] Mike [Macdonald] made a great call and it paid off."

Leonard Williams

Leonard Williams and NY Jets fans both know that Aaron Rodgers is washed

Williams told reporters exactly what many Jets fans have been thinking while watching Rodgers this year. The 41-year-old (as of today) quarterback is afraid to take hits. He's scared to throw downfield and doesn't trust his body anymore. It's arguably the biggest reason the Jets have failed this season.

Rodgers completed 21-of-39 passes for 185 yards, two touchdowns, and the interception, but his underlying numbers paint a more troubling picture. He averaged a season-worst 4.8 yards per attempt when throwing from a clean pocket today, per Next Gen Stats.

That marks the fifth time this season that Rodgers has averaged less than 5.2 yards per attempt from a clean pocket. No other quarterback in the NFL has done that more than twice.

The Jets' pass protection has mostly held up this season and was honestly excellent for the most part on Sunday. Rodgers has routinely failed to take advantage of clean pockets, and it's crushing the Jets' offense.

Williams isn't even the first opposing player to comment on Rodgers' decline after a game this season. New England Patriots defensive tackle Davon Godchaux made similar comments about Rodgers' rapidly declining abilities in his team's Week 8 win over the Jets.

The tape is out. It's not a secret any longer. Aaron Rodgers is washed and everyone knows it.

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