Aaron Rodgers is expected to help the New York Jets go from laughingstocks to contenders.
But the Jets weren’t displaying enough signs to feel good about ending their 13-season playoff drought.
The dismal start led to Tuesday’s dismissal of coach Robert Saleh. Now, interim coach Jeff Ulbrich will guide the team Monday night in a crucial AFC East contest against the visiting Buffalo Bills at East Rutherford, N.J.
The Jets (2-3) made the coaching change after back-to-back losses to the Denver Broncos and Minnesota Vikings. Offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett also had his playcalling duties taken away and passing game coordinator Todd Downing will call the plays against the Bills.
Rodgers acknowledged that he and his teammates are partly responsible for the coaching change.
“I think we need to do everything we can to maximize this opportunity,” Rodgers said Thursday. “… We need to be accountable to each other. When something like this happens, it’s a reset for everybody.”
Rodgers, 40, certainly needs to raise his own level of play. He has completed just 61 percent of his passes and been sacked 13 times while passing for 1,093 yards, seven touchdowns and four interceptions.
Three of the interceptions came during last week’s 23-17 loss to the Vikings.
The former four-time MVP with the Green Bay Packers is overseeing an offense that ranks 25th in scoring (18.6 points per game) and 27th in total offense (286.6 yards per game). New York also ranks last in rushing offense at 80.4 yards per game.
Rodgers said things need to improve immediately under Ulbrich, who is the team’s defensive coordinator.
“I think the spotlight’s on the players,” Rodgers said. “Now, you can change coaches, but we’re the ones out there on the field playing. So we got to play better, but we gotta stick together and get behind âBrick’ and move forward.”
Ulbrich, 47, spent 10 seasons as a linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers in a career that ended in 2009. He went into coaching and has been with the Jets since 2021 and is in his fourth season as their defensive coordinator.
“We can’t be afraid of mistakes and half-stepping,” Ulbrich said. “We’ve got to play this game on our terms, and I’m very confident we’re going to see that Monday night.”
Buffalo (3-2) is having its own struggles with consecutive losses to the Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans.
Star quarterback Josh Allen was an abysmal 9-for-30 passing for 131 yards and one touchdown in last weekend’s 23-20 road loss to the Texans.
“I’ve got to be better,” Allen said. “Ball placement, and a couple throws I wish I could have had back this last game.
“Just making sure we’re on the same page, and it starts with the quarterback. That’s on me. Just trying to find ways this next week of sustaining drives, being better on third down, staying out of some of these third-and-long situations.”
Bills coach Sean McDermott is convinced Allen’s problems are a short-term thing.
“You go through a season, it’s never a straight line in terms of the path to success,” McDermott said. “You’ve got to go through the ebbs and flows of the season and manage them.
“I know Josh is as competitive as there is, and we have full confidence in him, and I’m confident he’ll get back to doing that, and that’s important for us.”
Buffalo ranks third in scoring at 28.4 points, but just 22nd in total offense (299.8). Khalil Shakir leads the Bills in both receptions (18) and receiving yardage (230) as a go-to receiver has yet to emerge.
Shakir (ankle) sat out Thursday’s practice, as did running back James Cook (toe) and defensive tackle Ed Oliver (hamstring).
Jets cornerback Michael Carter II (back) did not practice Thursday. Rodgers (ankle), linebacker C.J. Mosley (toe) and offensive tackle Morgan Moses (knee) were among the limited participants.
Buffalo has won six of the past eight meetings.