Jets, Commanders tangle, grapple with reality of lost seasons

The New York Jets made news activating quarterback Aaron Rodgers, although the reality of the transaction is yet another signal that the focus of the franchise has shifted to next season.

Rodgers, who suffered an Achilles tear in the season opener, was elevated from injured reserve to allow him to practice in the Jets' final few weeks of the season, coach Robert Saleh explained.

With that dose of truth, down goes one of the few intriguing storylines left for the only matchup in Week 16 between teams already eliminated from the NFL postseason as the Washington Commanders (4-10) face the Jets (5-9) on Sunday in East Rutherford, N.J.

"It's all part of his rehab. Just having him on the field is a plus for everybody," Saleh told reporters on Wednesday. "It's a plus for him. It's a plus for his teammates. And so we're going to keep him up for practice."

The plan for the Jets is to start Zach Wilson at quarterback if he clears concussion protocol. Wilson was hurt during New York's 30-0 loss Sunday to the Miami Dolphins. If Wilson isn't cleared, Trevor Siemian would get the call, becoming the fourth different QB to start for the Jets this season.

The shutout loss to Miami was another example of the ineptitude of the New York offense as it gained a season-low 103 total yards while its quarterbacks committed a combined four turnovers and suffered six sacks.

Before his day was cut short in the second quarter, Wilson completed 4 of 11 passes for 26 yards. It was a regression from the previous week when he had the highest passer rating (117.9) of his three-year career in a 30-6 romp over the Houston Texans.

The Jets gained the fewest yards (255.1 per game) of any team in the league. But if there's a defense they can thrive against, it's a Commanders unit that has given up more yards (384.5) and points (30.2) per game than any team in the NFL.

During their current five-game losing streak, opposing receivers running wide open have been a familiar sight for the Commanders, including last week in a 28-20 loss to the Rams when Cooper Kupp went uncovered on a 62-yard touchdown catch.

"We have a lot of young guys in the secondary with (Darrick Forrest) going down and Jeremy Reaves going down," said Washington defensive tackle Jonathan Allen. "When you're playing against some of these quarterbacks with a bunch of young guys in the secondary, any small mistake will get taken advantage of."

On the other side of the ball, Washington quarterback Sam Howell has struggled recently. Backup Jacoby Brissett excelled in a relief role in Los Angeles, completing 8 of 10 passes for 124 yards and two touchdowns.

Howell will remain as the starter on Sunday, coach Ron Rivera said.

In what are likely his final days as coach of Washington, Rivera was still in a jocular mood on Wednesday, closing a press conference by wishing a veteran reporter a happy "70th" birthday, even though he is younger.

Commanders starters who missed practice on Wednesday were running back Brian Robinson (hamstring) and offensive linemen Charles Leno Jr. (calf) and Tyler Larsen (knee).

The lone Jets starter who sat out Wednesday's practice, aside from Wilson, was defensive end John Franklin-Myers (hip). Starters who were limited were offensive tackle Mekhi Becton (knee/shoulder), defensive tackle Solomon Thomas (knee) and safety Jordan Whitehead (knee).

—Field Level Media