Jets' Rodgers insists there is no falling out with Saleh and responds to rumors of a possible reunion with Adams

WARE, England (AP) — Aaron Rodgers talked about some football but mostly relationships — particularly with coach Robert Saleh and his former teammate Davante Adams — after the New York Jets touched down in London on Friday.

The four-time NFL MVP even threw in some local terminology during his 11-minute session with reporters before Sunday's game against the undefeated Minnesota Vikings at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, saying “exhausted” and “amazed.”

Rodgers denied any dispute between him and Saleh and said there was “a driving force” outside the Jets facility that was trying to “drive a wedge between Robert and me.”

The pre-snap penalties in a 10-9 loss to Denver last week left Saleh wondering “if we're good enough or ready to handle all the cadence” with which Rodgers confuses the defense. Saleh later clarified that he meant the entire flow of the offense, not specifically Rodgers' cadence. He said the Jets would “always push the limits” because of Rodgers’ success.

“Cadence was a weapon,” Rodgers said at the team’s hotel north of London. “I think he kind of went in and had a chance to respond to all of that on Monday.”

The 40-year-old quarterback also made it clear that he and Saleh are not at odds.

“We’re really good friends,” he said. “We enjoy each other.” We hang out almost every day, I'm in his office talking about things, talking about the energy of the team, the focus of the team, what we need to get done, how I can help him, like he can help me can help out.

“So we have a great relationship.”

Another hot topic this week was the status of the frustrated Adams, who could be available for a trade after he reportedly asked the Las Vegas Raiders for a deal. The Jets were mentioned as a potential destination because of the relationship between Adams and Rodgers, who were teammates in Green Bay for eight seasons.

Rodgers prefaced his comments about Adams by saying he wasn't sure how much he could say because of the NFL's tampering rules. But he has made his preference clear when it comes to a possible reunion.

“I still have a close friendship with him,” Rodgers said. “We spend a lot of time together in the off-season. He's a great guy and a great player. The rest is out of my hands.”

When asked how a player might benefit from a change of scenery, Rodgers replied: “The grass is green where you water it. … You can make any place a special situation.”

Rodgers, who was sacked five times and hit 14 times by the Broncos, said he felt “a little banged up” but was “pretty good” overall and was not listed on the team's injury report Friday.

He was treated for a sore left knee this week but participated fully in practice at the team's facility in Florham Park, New Jersey, on Thursday and again on Friday after being listed as limited on Wednesday for failing to gain weight during stretching came to his teammates.

Bucket list

Rodgers may be 40, but he welcomes the NFL's aggressive international push. Brazil hosted its first NFL game this season. Spain will get its first in 2025.

“Spain would be fun,” Rodgers said when asked where else he would like to play. But that’s not all: “Mexico, France, Italy.”

“We know what reach we have,” Rodgers said of the league. “It's great to be here and be a part of this. “I love that we're branching out and I love how we can continue to evolve the game.”

Two years ago, Rodgers and the Packers lost 27-22 to the New York Giants in London.

“I definitely want to win in London,” he said.

Stay in place

The Jets will skip the long road to their Saturday run this time.

During the team's hour-plus drive to the stadium in 2021, several people fell asleep as they discovered that London traffic is just as bad as the bridge and tunnel scenes in New York. The Jets then lost 27-20 to the Atlanta Falcons after falling behind 17-0 early in the second quarter.

“We don’t commute like that,” Saleh said. “Science says you shouldn’t nap, and this was a recipe for a nap.”

At 2-2, the coach says the Jets are “in the thick of it” and at a turning point: “This is the part of the season where teams start to figure out exactly who they are.” Either you climb the hill or you stay down.”

What pressure?

The Jets haven't won much — but that's still the goal for a team that has missed the postseason for the last 13 years.

“You have to win – it’s New York,” Saleh said. “The expectation is to win. If you win, you go to the Super Bowl. If you lose, fire everyone. This is the world we live in, this is the world we embrace.”

“We are made for this, we are built for this.”

Injuries

LB CJ Mosley (toe) and DL Leki Fotu (hamstring) were listed as questionable for the game after being limited in practice this week. … RT Morgan Moses (knee) was previously ruled out.

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