VETERAN fullback Nick Bawden has been released by the New York Jets – to make room on the active roster for Aaron Rodgers.
Nick, 27, Һit free agency on Wednesday despite Rodgers, 39, revealing he won’t play again this season.
4Aaron Rodgers is returning to the New York Jets active roster – but won’t play this seasonCredit: AP
4The franchise quarterback, 39, wants to get back to practice after his early-season Achilles tearCredit: Getty
4Nick Bawden, a fullback, has been let go so that Rodgers can join the 53-man active squad.Getty Rodgers tore his Achilles tendon on his first play as a Jet after joining from the Green Bay Packers during the off-season.Fans and experts were both shocked when he planned a surprise return to football this season after having major surgery.But the four-time MVP told The Pat McAfee Show on Tuesday that he wasn’t fit enough to play again since the Jets were out of the playoff picture.Even so, Rodgers was taken off of injured reserve on Wednesday and added to the active squad so he could keep practicing.Bawden, who has been with the Jets since 2021, was the one who had to be taken off the 53-man list.Fans cursed his bad luck on social media after the healthy future Hall of Famer took his place just before Christmas.”Well,” one fan wrote. Dang. It’s really too bad for Nick Bawden.”Question of the day: Why not just let him keep practicing on IR?” asked someone else. Why are we doing this for 21 days? “Why should I care?””He can always tell his grandchildren, ‘I was actually replaced by Aaron Rodgers,’” joked a third.But a fourth said, “Well, he’s a franchise quarterback.” Bowlen can be added to the practice squad.His team, the Detroit Lions, picked him up in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL Draft.New York has played him in all 14 games so far this season. He has carried the ball twice for four yards and scored a touchdown.Bawden can sign with any NFL team after clearing waivers, or he can go back to the Jets practice squad.Reporters were told by Jets head coach Robert Saleh that Rodgers’ return to the active list was “all part of his rehab.”Saleh said, “We’re still going to keep him on the active roster.”We have a flexible list because of all the things that have happened in the last two weeks. It’s all part of his recovery.”Having him on the football field is good for everyone.” It’s good for him. This is good for his team.
4Rodgers told the Pat McAfee Show he would not be returning this season as hopedCredit: Pat McAfee Show // EPSN