Aaron Rodgers has opened up on his bizarre sideline exchange with Robert Saleh, insisting he wasn’t expecting his New York Jets head coach to go in for a hug.
The quarterback was in brilliant form on his first return to MetLife since tearing his Achilles, but a hugely positive night took a tense turn at the end of the first quarter.
Returning to the sidelines after throwing his first home Jets touchdown, head coach Saleh went in for a hug – only to be pushed away by his veteran QB.
Explaining the situation to reporters after the game, Rodgers said: ‘It wasn’t awkward at all. He’s not a big hugger, usually, I didn’t know he was going for the hug. He likes the two hand chest push.
‘He talks a lot about two score leads so I gave him a push and said two score lead.’
Saleh also laughed off any talk of a rift between the pair, saying post-game: ‘Part of the things that we’ve been talking about is to give the defense a two-score lead.
‘It [wasn’t] a two-score lead so he wanted to see something on defense.’
On social media, fans jumped to Rodgers’ defense and hailed his attitude, insisting it is exactly what the Jets need as they aim for the Super Bowl.
One wrote: ‘I understand. Game ain’t won yet and Saleh wants a hug. This that Kobe mentality that this team needs.’
The Jets are now 2-1 for the first time since 2015, and face the Denver Broncos next as they look to continue their winning streak.
Rodgers and Co lost on the road to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1 but have since bounced back with victories over the Titans and Patriots.
Rodgers himself was in imperious form, throwing another two touchdowns in his best performance yet in Jets green.
He completed 27 of his 35 passing attempts – a much higher completion percentage than Weeks 1 and 2, and he left the game with a QBR of 81.8 percent.
Rodgers now has five touchdown passes for the season, the joint-most of any QB in the league – although he has played a game more.
