Aaron Rodgers on minicamp absence: 'Two OTA days'

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers said it's "deceiving" to assert that he missed the team's mandatory minicamp last month since it fell within the voluntary "OTA schedule."

He made the remarks on Barstool's "Pardon My Take" podcast published Monday morning. They marked his first public comments since taking an unexcused absence from the mandatory two-day minicamp to instead take a trip to Egypt. At the time, Rodgers' absence was chalked up to a prior commitment.

"They can arbitrarily put a tag on whatever week of OTAs they want and say, 'This is the minicamp week,' which makes it somehow more mandatory than the other weeks," Rodgers said on the podcast. "But it was an OTA schedule. That's how words can be a little deceiving from time to time. They can make a story out of the fact that I missed minicamp, but it was really two OTA days, but (I) came to the first 10."

Minicamp is still a mandatory event, per the collective bargaining agreement.

"I'm sure I'll get fined for that," said Rodgers, 40.

Jets training camp begins Wednesday in Florham Park, N.J.

A four-time NFL MVP, Rodgers followed a celebrated tenure with the Green Bay Packers by playing just four snaps before suffering an Achilles injury during his debut with the Jets on Sept. 11, 2023.

Rodgers passed for 59,055 yards, 475 touchdowns and 105 interceptions in 230 games (223 starts) for the Packers from 2005-22, compiling a record of 147-75-1. He made 10 Pro Bowls and guided Green Bay to a Super Bowl XLV victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

--Field Level Media