Sauce Gardner doesn’t sound afraid to wave a Horrible Towel at Aaron Rodgers if the Jets beat their former quarterback in Week 1.
Rodgers made his Steelers observe debut this week, and the NFL has arrange a juicy season-opening matchup with the longer term Corridor of Famer returning to MetLife Stadium to face the Jets at 1 p.m. Sept. 7 in his first recreation since he was reduce by head coach Aaron Glenn.
“I believe it’s going to be enjoyable,” Gardner mentioned. “There’s going to be numerous smiling on the market, numerous competing on the market. I’m wanting ahead to it. I do know Aaron is a competitor. They’ve obtained DK [Metcalf] over there, who is also a competitor. I believe it’s going to be a fairly good recreation.”
Gardner famously grabbed a cheesehead and introduced it again residence after the Jets beat the Rodgers-led Packers at Lambeau Discipline in 2022.
The 2 then grew to become shut buddies in a mentor-student method over two seasons as Jets teammates.
Might Gardner have one thing up his sleeve if the Jets prevail once more?
“Positive, certain,” Gardner laughed.
He continued that he might need to “tread frivolously” if the sport was in Pittsburgh, “however we play right here, so we’re on residence courtroom. I’ve to consider it.”
Glenn smiled at a Rodgers-based query and danced round it with out saying the quarterback’s title.
“Each recreation there may be numerous noise as a result of they’re so vital so far as wins and losses,” he mentioned. “I don’t care who that opponent is. It simply so occurred to be Pittsburgh. Pay attention, they’ve numerous good gamers on that group. They’ve a rattling good coach who I’m keen on, however our gamers are going to be able to play each recreation. And I do know that for a reality.”
The 2028 Summer time Olympics will embody 5-on-5 flag soccer.
One participant per NFL group will probably be permitted to affix the 10-man roster.
“I undoubtedly could be concerned with it,” Gardner mentioned. “Having the ability to play for my nation, I believe it’s an enormous deal. Each time it’s the Olympics, I’m all the time tuned in.”
Gardner joked that it will be a pleasant respite from preseason grind.
“It will be good to have that in coaching camp when it’s powerful,” Gardner mentioned. “Having the ability to go to the Olympics and have some enjoyable for somewhat bit earlier than we get into the season.”
One of many go-to trick performs within the Lions playbook the previous 4 years was throwing passes to offensive tackles Dan Skipper, Penei Sewell and Taylor Decker.
To maintain issues free throughout Thursday’s observe, Glenn had his offensive linemen catching go-balls.
Did he see potential?
“Completely not,” Glenn laughed. “That’s going to be a piece in progress, I’ll let you know that.”
CB Michael Carter II missed 4 video games final season, together with two of the final three, resulting from a nagging again harm.
Carter was cleared to start rehabbing in February.
He mentioned he blended in medical remedies with three or 4 rehab classes per week over a six- or seven-week interval.
“I’m in loads higher place now,” Carter mentioned. “I did the work within the offseason and every part like that after which all through OTAs. So I really feel actually good.”
The Jets signed OG Marquis Hayes and undrafted rookie DE Kingsley Jonathan to take the roster spots of OG Zack Bailey and CB Tre Swilling, each of whom had been waived.
