New York

Jets

Rosenblatt and Russini report now-fired general manager Joe Douglas “had already lost some power midway through last season when Johnson took a more active role”. After a Week 4 loss to the Broncos, Johnson “suggested to coaches that they bench Aaron Rodgers”. A week later, he made the decision to fire head coach Robert Saleh “without consulting his general manager”. Johnson also made decisions on player signings and front office firings over the offseason, decreasing Douglas’ power as general manager and pressuring certain decisions, like nixing a trade for Jerry Jeudy and a contract extension for Bryce Huff. Douglas has now been fired as the Jets will hit reset in the offseason. Johnson returned to run the Jets in 2021, after serving as the United States’ Ambassador to the United Kingdom - his brother ran the team when the Jets hired Douglas in 2019.

“It’s hard to imagine him even wanting to come back,” Cimini adds. SNY’s Connor Hughes concurred, saying “it’s very clear now that this organization is going to find a new quarterback.” The Jets beat has come out strong with the belief that this is the end of the line for Rodgers in New York following the firing of Joe Douglas. There’s enough inertia here that we wouldn’t entirely rule out a Rodgers return — who is the owner? who is the general manager? who is the head coach? — but if those questions aren’t answered in a manner that is favorable to Aaron Rodgers, it seems likely that Rodgers would want to leave. The question would then become: Who would want a 41-year-old quarterback who won’t throw deep and doesn’t want to be challenged?

The former Browns general manager likely has no shot at getting a full-time job and, with the trade deadline passing, has little way to make an impact on this roster. He ran the Browns from 2005-2008 and has mostly been an executive or consultant since. He’s the guy who will check to make sure any move he wants to make is cool with Aaron Rodgers for the next seven weeks.

Phil Savage, a former general manager for the Browns and a member of New York’s front office, will serve as the Jets’ interim GM. Douglas is out after five and a half seasons as New York’s general manager. It hardly comes as a shock after the front office’s gamble on 40-year-old Aaron Rodgers turned out disastrously on every front. The Jets are 3-8 in another lost season without any clear path forward outside a total teardown and years-long rebuild. Douglas bet on Rodgers and lost badly. The Jets were 30-64 with Douglas as GM. The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reports the team’s GM search would begin immediately.

Hilariously, Conklin for some reason also took a fourth down direct snap that was stopped for no gain. Now held to one catch in three straight starts, Conklin is pure waiver wire fodder heading into the Jets’ Week 12 bye.

Adams displayed increased efficiency after a disastrous 6-of-13 for 31 yards effort in Week 10, but the entire Jets offensive operation ultimately remained limited and un-explosive. That included zero first downs until inside the two-minute warning in the first half. Adams will probably spike some weeks when the Jets return from their Week 12 bye for a soft stretch-run schedule, but any WR1 hope can be abandoned, while his WR2 value is now floor-based instead of ceiling-focused.

The disastrous statline comes as opposing defenses continue to close in on an immobile Aaron Rodgers. Wilson posted a new season low for yardage by 15. Wilson initially seemed to be benefitting from Davante Adams coming in and commanding defensive attention, but now it’s just Adams vacuuming up short-area looks while Rodgers struggles to generate anything down the field. There is hope when the Jets return from their Week 12 bye to face a string of soft opponents, but Wilson is beginning to look like a low-end WR2 in a deteriorating offense.

Allen was not targeted in the passing game. His fewest handles since Week 1 came as Breece Hall matched a season high with 23 touches. The backup running spot just isn’t a good place to be in an offense that struggles for both volume and points. With the Jets headed on bye for Week 12, you would be forgiven for cutting Allen loose despite his massive contingency value.

The 16 carries tied for Hall’s second most of the season, while the seven receptions tied for his most. He was a “lone bright spot” in an otherwise dismal Gang Green performance that dropped the team to 3-8. Hall’s receiving score was a dump-off he turned into a 29-yard catch-and-run. His rushing TD was an 18-yarder to give the Jets the lead early in the third quarter. Long scores tend to be necessary in this offense because of how dysfunctional it gets in the red zone. The Jets’ season is over, but when they come off bye in Week 13, it will be to a string of soft matchups. Hall is going to be a major factor in the fantasy playoffs even if Aaron Rodgers is cooked.

It was another pitiful Jets performance, one where the first first down did not come until the 1:53 mark of the second quarter. Rodgers and company were “better” after that, but Rodgers had the looks of a player who is physically cooked, most vividly on the game-ending sack he took in Hail Mary mode. Rodgers has to work too hard for every completion, which is bad news since he can’t outrun anyone anymore when he departs the pocket. This is sadly an experiment that has run its course. When it comes to fantasy, Rodgers hasn’t cleared 233 yards in a month and has one three-touchdown day all season. Headed on bye, Gang Green does at least return to softer dates with the Seahawks, Dolphins and Jaguars, but that’s what the Colts were supposed to be, too.