Aaron Rodgers, Jets begin redemption season bid vs. 49ers

Aaron Rodgers sustained a season-ending torn left Achilles tendon on the fourth snap of his New York Jets’ debut last season.

In recent days, the veteran quarterback has been thinking about how to react to snap No. 5 in Monday night’s season-opening game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif.

“There might be a little smirk after the fourth,” Rodgers said on Thursday. “I’m sure they’ll catch it (on camera).”

The 40-year-old Rodgers returns for his 20th season just two days shy of the one-year anniversary of his injury. His arrival before last season pumped life into the Jets, but it quickly evaporated due to his serious injury.

New York is hoping for a Rodgers revival, and the quarterback is looking forward to playing football instead of simply watching it.

And while the four-time NFL MVP says he has something to prove, there is only one person Rodgers is interested in impressing.

“Just myself at this point,” Rogers said. “I have a lot of pride in my performance. So, when I take the field, I expect greatness. And because I’ve done it before. So, that’s the kind of standard I hold myself to.”

The Jets went 7-10 in 2023 — their eighth straight losing season — and missed the playoffs for the 13th consecutive time.

Rodgers is hoping to silence the “Same Old Jets” refrain, and coach Robert Saleh sees a player ready to carry the team to greater heights.

“I think he’s in a great place,” Saleh said. “Not just mentally, but physically he looks awesome. … He’s a professional. He’s done it a long time.”

San Francisco (12-5 in 2023) has excelled in recent years, making four of the last five NFC Championship Games. The 49ers have won two of them but subsequently lost the Super Bowl both times, including last year’s 25-22 overtime defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs.

San Francisco has dealt with plenty of news off the field leading up to the season, with the holdouts of receiver Brandon Aiyuk and left tackle Trent Williams and the shooting of rookie wideout Ricky Pearsall.

Aiyuk agreed to a four-year, $120 million extension last week and Williams landed a restructured three-year, $82.66 million deal earlier this week. Both players will see action on Monday night.

“I want guys here. I want to prepare the guys for the season,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said Thursday. “And you only can do so much on your own. But the bottom line is they’re here, and we got a long season ahead of us, and I’m pumped to have them for Week 1.”

Pearsall was shot in the chest on Saturday during an attempted robbery in the Union Square district of San Francisco. He was placed on the non-football injury list earlier this week and will miss at least four games.

“He’s as tough a person I know, just going through a situation like that,” Shanahan said of Pearsall.

“We always felt this way watching him on the football field and things like that, but kind of to watch how he handled that situation, and watch how he’s been every day since, it shows how special of a guy he is.”

49ers star running back Christian McCaffrey is listed as questionable with a leg injury that limited him in practice all week. The team had previously listed him with a calf injury but Shanahan revealed Thursday that the injury includes the Achilles. McCaffrey insisted Friday that he will play.

San Francisco defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos (knee) and linebacker Dee Winters (ankle) were ruled out on Saturday. Safety Talanoa Hufanga (knee) is doubtful and guard Aaron Banks (finger) is questionable.

New York is at a contract impasse with Pro Bowl pass rusher Haason Reddick, who was acquired from the Philadelphia Eagles in the offseason.

Jets guard Wes Schweitzer (hand) and linebacker Zaire Barnes (ankle) will sit out the contest.

The 49ers have won 11 of the 14 all-time meetings, including a 31-13 road win in 2020.