Rodgers rips critics: Activation from IR was Jets' idea

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers took a few more shots at his critics Tuesday, saying it was the team's idea to activate him from injured reserve even though he'd already been ruled out for the season.

"I assumed I was going to go on IR," Rodgers said on ESPN's "The Pat McAfee Show." "I asked to be put on IR, but then there was a conversation, 'Do you want to practice?' I said not at the expense of somebody getting cut. I know how this works.

"I didn't feel like I needed to practice to continue my rehab. I could do on-the-field stuff on the side, but, obviously, I got overruled there."

Rodgers had announced that his comeback bid from a torn Achilles tendon was over Dec. 19, one day before his 21-day activation window was set to close. However, the Jets decided to activate him anyway so that he could continue to practice with the team down the stretch. Fullback Nick Bawden was initially cut for Rodgers but later re-signed with the practice squad.

The 40-year-old told McAfee that he "called Nick right away" to let Bawden know it wasn't his idea.

Jets head coach Robert Saleh confirmed they wanted Rodgers to be active so he could help on the field during practice.

"(Rodgers) expressed concern about taking up someone's roster spot and all that stuff, and what it meant," Saleh said Tuesday, according to ESPN's Rich Cimini. "But like I told you guys, we had roster flexibility, just like we told him, and we had the ability to do it. And so, we did."

Rodgers also directed some specific comments toward those who have called him selfish for taking up a roster spot while not playing. He believes those people are pushing "conspiracies" about him due to disagreements with his stance on the COVID-19 vaccine.

"It's the same tired narrative. ... I love to practice. Didn't want it to be at the expense of a teammate, but again that's out of my control," he said.

"But again, it's the same people. So let's make sure we're asking the right questions to these people before they start spouting off so we can actually frame each one of these sort of comments in the right perspective."