Aaron Rodgers – like Brett Favre before him – left the Packers to play for the Jets.
Will Rodgers have the opportunity to play against the Packers? Like Favre, that likely will have to wait at least a year.
The Jets have several prime-time games on the 2023 NFL schedule, but Green Bay will not be one of those games in the regular season. Chances are Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst knew that when Green Bay agreed to trade Rodgers, a four-time MVP, to the New York on April 24.
When could Rodgers get that reunion game against the Packers – just like Favre? Would it be in Lambeau Field? Will Jordan Love still be with the Packers if it happens? Let’s look at all those scenarios.
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Will Aaron Rodgers play against Packers in 2023?
Not unless it’s in Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Feb. 11, 2024.
The Packers play the AFC West this season as part of their four-year rotation against AFC opponents. Green Bay’s 17th game is on the road against the Pittsburgh Steelers, who finished third in the AFC North.
The Jets play the NFC East this season, and their cross-over opponent is the Atlanta Falcons, who finished last in the NFC South. That game is in New York.
The Packers and Jets played each other in 2022. New York won 27-10 at Lambeau Field on Oct. 26, 2022 – a game in which Jets cornerback Ahmad Gardner left the field wearing a cheesehead. Green will not play New York as part of the regular rotation until 2026.
So unless the Packers play the Jets in the preseason this year, the only chance would be Super Bowl 57.
Could Aaron Rodgers play at Lambeau Field in 2024?
Maybe. If Rodgers plays a second season with the New York Jets in 2024, then there is a chance he could play against the Packers at Lambeau Field.
Per the NFL schedule rules: “The 17th game is an additional game against a non-conference opponent from a division that the team is not scheduled to play. Matchups are based on division ranking from the previous season.”
Green Bay’s 17th game will be against an AFC East opponent in 2024, and that game will be a home game. However, the Jets and Packers would have to finish in the same place in their respective divisions. So, if New York finishes third in the AFC East and Green Bay finishes third in the NFC North this season in the 2023 regular season, then those teams will meet in the 2024 regular season.
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Will Jordan Love be with the Packers in 2024?
Green Bay drafted Love with the No. 26 pick in the first round in 2020, a move that was a domino that led to Rogers being traded to the Jets this offseason.
Love, who has made one start the last three seasons as the backup for Rodgers, will be the starter for the Packers this season. Green Bay also agreed to a one-year extension through the 2024 season with Love, so if the Packers play the Jets in the regular season then he would likely be the starting quarterback.
How many times did Brett Favre play against the Packers?
Rodgers knows the answer to this one.
The Packers traded Favre to the Jets ahead of the 2008 season, where he spent one season before retiring – then un-retiring – and joining the Minnesota Vikings in 2009.
Favre would play against the Packers four times over the following two seasons.
Favre won both starts in the 2009 season. He passed for 271 yards and three TDs in a 30-23 victory on Monday Night Football at the Metrodome on Oct. 5, 2009. He returned to Lambeau Field on Nov. 1 of that season and passed for 244 yards and four TDs in a 38-26 victory. The Vikings reached the NFC championship game.
Rodgers got revenge the following season. Green Bay beat the Vikings 28-24 in a Sunday Night Football thriller Oct. 24, 2010; a game the Packers sealed when Desmond Bishop intercepted Favre and returned it 32 yards for a touchdown. The Packers won the second meeting 31-3 on Nov. 21, 2010. Green Bay went on to win Super Bowl XLV, and Rodgers was the Super Bowl MVP.
Published at Thu, 11 May 2023 01:08:37 +0000