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New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers cleared the air over an awkward exchange between himself and head coach Robert Saleh on the sideline during the team's 24-3 win against the New England Patriots Thursday (September 19) night.
Rodgers appeared to look intensely at Saleh as the two celebrated the Jets' second touchdown during the Prime Video live broadcast, which many perceived as a potential rift between the two.
“He’s not a big hugger, usually, so I didn’t know he was going for the huge,” Rodgers said of Saleh while speaking to reporters after the game via the New York Post. “He likes to do the two-hand chest push as well. He talks a lot about two-score leads. So I just kind of gave him a push and said ‘Two-score lead.'”
Saleh also claimed that Rodgers said "two-score lead" during his postgame press conference. Rodgers finished the game with 281 yards and two touchdowns on 27 of 35 passing.
The Thursday Night Football matchup marked Rodgers' first at MetLife Stadium since suffering an Achilles injury on the first drive of his Jets debut last season. The four-time NFL MVP has thrown for 624 yards, five touchdowns and one interceptions on 58 of 86 passing in 2024, which includes a 32-19 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1 and a 24-17 win against the Tennessee Titans in Week 2.