Aaron Rodgers throws TD pass in brief preseason debut

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ — Aaron Rodgers threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Garrett Wilson to cap the second and final streak of his preseason debut with the New York Jets, helping his new team to a 32-game win -24 against the Giants on Saturday night. .

Wearing his Jets white No. 8 jersey and playing preseason for the first time since 2018 when he was with Green Bay, the four-time NFL MVP came out in the regular season tune-up against the replacements for the Giants.

After completing three of five passes for 23 yards on his first drive, Rodgers opened the next series for the Jets (2-2) with a transfer to Michael Carter and then knocked down CJ Uzomah. His throw on third down fell incomplete for Wilson, but Amani Oruwariye was called for pass interference – putting the ball on the Giants 24.

Rodgers then made a quick 10-yard throw to Mecole Hardman. He followed that up with a perfectly placed pass to Wilson in the front left corner of the end zone with 8:23 left in the first quarter, giving the Jets a 7-0 lead over the Giants (1-2 ), who were at home. York team at MetLife Stadium.

That was it for Rodgers, who went 5 of 8 for 47 yards and the TD in his two streaks before being replaced by Zach Wilson. Three of Rodgers’ five successes have been credited to reigning AP Offensive Rookie of the Year Garrett Wilson, who struck up a quick relationship with the veteran quarterback.

And Jets fans, many of whom were worried about Rodgers participating in a preseason game, could breathe a sigh of relief.

Rodgers’ next appearance will be the regular season opener against AFC East rivals the Buffalo Bills on Sept. 11.

The last preseason game Rodgers appeared in was on Aug. 16, 2018, when he started and went 2 of 4 for 35 yards and a touchdown in his only series against Pittsburgh.

Brandin Echols ended the Giants’ third offensive series by intercepting Tommy DeVito and returning 67 yards for a touchdown.

The play, which withstood a video review to see if the third-year cornerback was down after the pickoff, gave the Jets a 14-0 first quarter lead.

Echols is suspended for the first game of the regular season for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy.

DeVito, the third player behind starter Daniel Jones and backup Tyrod Taylor, redeemed himself for the pick-6 by leading the Giants on an impressive run two series later.

Jashaun Corbin completed a 1-yard TD with 8:27 left in the first half to cut the Giants’ deficit to 14-7. DeVito and the Giants converted four plays of third down on a drive that totaled 81 yards on 14 plays in 6:25.

DeVito, an undrafted rookie from Illinois, was 19 of 29 for 210 yards, including a late 30-yard pass to David Sills.

Graham Gano had 57, 40 and 56 yards for the Giants, making it 6 of 6 field attempts in the preseason – each for 40 yards or more.

Giants linebacker Isaiah Simmons started for his new team just two days after being acquired from Arizona.

The No. 8 pick in the 2020 draft, who had three lackluster seasons with the Cardinals, nearly got Rodgers fired in the Jets’ first series. Rodgers was forced to throw the ball on the third play and the Jets had to punt.