Aaron Rodgers sounds off on the problems with the NFL preseason: 'It's not real football'
Get the Sports newsletter
Daily sports — scores, transfers, the storylines from the leagues you actually follow. Free.
- Aaron Rodgers told reporters Wednesday the preseason "isn't real football" and said he doesn't expect to play in Thursday's opener against his former team, the Green Bay Packers.
- Rodgers argued teams "don't run anything anymore" on offense or defense during preseason games, making them useless for a 21-year veteran preparing for the regular season.
- Joint practices have lost their value, according to Rodgers, who said they've devolved into fights — referencing this week's Jets-Buccaneers and 49ers-Titans scuffles — and called them "a waste of a day."
- Matt LaFleur plans to play most of his starters, including Jordan Love, for at least one possession against Pittsburgh, siding with coaches who still see preseason reps as valuable preparation.
- Sean McVay sits on the opposite end of the debate, refusing to play Matthew Stafford at all in the preseason, illustrating the split in how NFL teams use the exhibition slate.
- Rodgers, 42, plans to spend the game on the headset acting as a "voice of reason" with "an occasional dad joke," the same sideline role he filled when he skipped the preseason last year.
Why it matters: Rodgers' comments crystallize a long-standing divide among NFL coaches and quarterbacks: veterans like the 42-year-old see preseason reps as unnecessary wear, while LaFleur and others view them as essential preparation. The practical stakes are roster health — established starters risk injury in games where teams run vanilla schemes, while fringe players and rookies get their only shot to make the team.
Ask SkimNews
