SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers made it through his second try at an opener with the New York Jets healthy even if the performance wasn’t close to the level that made him a four-time MVP.
A year after tearing his Achilles on his fourth snap with New York, Rodgers made his highly anticipated return to the field on Monday night in a 32-19 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
Rodgers showed signs of his old self, connecting on a well-placed back-shoulder throw to his new No. 1 receiver Garrett Wilson in the first half and connecting on a 36-yard scoring strike to his old Green Bay teammate Allen Lazard in the third quarter.
But it wasn’t enough to beat the 49ers, who overpowered New York in the trenches and overcame the absence of All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey.
Mason, who was undrafted in 2022, made up for it in his first career start using his physical running style to help San Francisco control the ball behind a strong performance from the offensive line.
Deebo Samuel added a 2-yard TD run and Jake Moody made a franchise record-tying six field goals to lead the 49ers to the win.
Brock Purdy threw for 231 yards with no touchdowns or turnovers against a Jets defense that generated little pressure without holdout edge rusher Haason Reddick.
The Niners took control of the game around halftime. They got a field goal on a 12-play, 75-yard drive at the end of the first half and scored on Mason’s 5-yard run on an 11-play, 70-yarder to start the second half. That turned a 13-7 lead into a 23-7 advantage with the Jets getting only one kneel down snap during that stretch.
Rodgers then threw an interception on the next drive on a pass to Garrett Wilson that was deflected by Deommodore Lenoir into the hands of linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles.
Rodgers threw his first TD pass in 610 days when he took advantage of a free play when Leonard Floyd jumped offsides to connect on a 36-yard scoring strike to Allen Lazard that cut the deficit to 26-13. Lazard caught a second TD in the closing seconds from Tyrod Taylor after the game had already been decided.
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Rodgers’ second game with the Jets lasted much longer than his first, which ended with a season-ending Achilles injury after just four snaps in 2023.
New York went three-and-out on the opening drive this game with two handoffs and a dropped pass by Lazard before a setback on the fourth snap that was temporary instead of season ending this time around. Rodgers’ first completion as a Jet was caught by Breece Hall, who had the ball punched out by Fred Warner for a lost fumble that set up a Niners field goal.
Rodgers got the Jets moving on the following drive, converting three third-down passes to Wilson to set up Hall’s 3-yard TD run. Rodgers went 6 for 7 for 61 yards on the drive.
New York didn’t get another first down in the half and trailed 16-7 at the break.
Injuries
Jets: CB Michael Carter left with an ankle injury.
49ers: McCaffrey was inactive after being listed as questionable because of injuries to his calf and Achilles. … LG Aaron Banks left in the third quarter with a calf injury.
Up next
Jets: Visit Tennessee on Sunday.
49ers: Visit Minnesota on Sunday.
