Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers missed the team’s mandatory minicamp because he had a pre-planned trip to Egypt, sources told SNY.
Rodgers attended every day of the team’s Phase 1 voluntary workouts. He missed one week of Phase 2 but attended every organized team activity workout – also voluntary.
Rodgers originally pieced this trip together during his recovery from his Achilles injury. It gave him something to look forward to during one of the lowest points of his career. He’s long admired Egyptian culture and scheduled the visit for what was believed to be after the offseason programs.
The Jets were made aware of the trip when the official minicamp dates were announced (June 11, 12) and overlapped with Rodgers’ plans. While an unexcused absence, the team is not concerned, sources told SNY, that this will impact Rodgers’ season. They wanted him at minicamp but were understanding of how important this trip was for him.
As one source put it: Rodgers’ absence during the two-day minicamp will not impact the Jets season whatsoever.
Multiple players SNY touched base with had zero issue with Rodgers missing minicamp, all pointing towards his attendance during the voluntary portion. Those same players were surprised that those outside One Jets Drive felt differently.
Hysteria over Rodgers’ whereabouts emerged largely because of the way the absence was announced. From the Jets perspective: They did not want to set a precedent for players missing mandatory workouts for pre-planned trips (pass rusher Haason Reddick was the only other Jets player not in attendance – he wants a new contract). While they were aware of Rodgers’ trip, and understanding of why it was important to him, their public stance on the matter gave the impression they were not and discounted Rodgers’ near perfect attendance throughout the voluntary portion of the offseason program.
Mandatory minicamp, while mandatory, is simply two practices structured identically to the OTAs Rodgers did…
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