New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers had fans seeing flashbacks Monday with one play against the San Francisco 49ers.
The Niners led the Jets 26-7 with under two minutes left in the third quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.
As the Jets faced 3rd-and-8 at the 49ers’ 36, defensive end Leonard Floyd was flagged for offsides just as the ball was snapped.
With a free play in hand, Rodgers did what he does best — throw touchdowns. The 4-time NFL MVP hit wide receiver Allen Lazard in stride for a 36-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to two scores.
FREE PLAY KING AARON RODGERS 👑
📺: #NYJvsSF on ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus and ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/enHPibM0Cq— NFL (@NFL) September 10, 2024
The TD was Rodgers’ 18th on a free play for his career — the most in NFL history.
The vintage Rodgers throw had several fans saying the same thing: Aaron Rodgers is back.
The King of the free play
Aaron Rodgers is so backpic.twitter.com/CtZ4FD1swY
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) September 10, 2024
Aaron Rodgers free play TD
We're so back
— Eli Berkovits (@BookOfEli_NFL) September 10, 2024
Aaron Rodgers isn’t back until he throws a TD on a free play.
Now he’s back— Mark (@Mark_L89) September 10, 2024
aaron rodgers is so back
— noah (@HowdyImNoah) September 10, 2024
Rodgers did have his moments in his return Monday. However, the Jets were largely outplayed by a dominant 49ers squad in a 32-19 San Francisco victory.
The 40-year-old went 13/21 with a touchdown and an interception before getting benched late in the contest.
Rodgers’ counterpart Brock Purdy had a productive outing with 231 passing yards on a 29/29 clip. But it was 49ers running back Jordan Mason who dominated, rushing for 147 yards and a touchdown on 28 carries.
Mason stepped in as the starter in place of an injured Christian McCaffrey, whom the 49ers ruled out for Week 1 with an injury.
