Aaron Rodgers may have played his final snap for the NY Jets

Former New York Jets general manager Joe Douglas should forever have a place on Brian Gutekunst's Christmas card list. Douglas and the Jets saved the Green Bay Packers by taking on Aaron Rodgers' huge contract in what could go down as the worst trade in NFL history (for the Jets, at least).

The Packers moved on from Rodgers a year too late, but Gutekunst still salvaged the incoming salary cap mess by trading the four-time MVP to the Jets. As Green Bay turned the page and built the league's youngest roster around Jordan Love, the Rodgers era couldn't have gone much worse in the Big Apple.

Rodgers' first year in New York lasted all of four plays, and despite starting every game this season, the Jets are somehow worse. Meanwhile, the Packers fleeced the Jets in a deal that helped them land Luke Musgrave, Edgerrin Cooper, and Evan Williams.

The Jets fired head coach Robert Saleh, who is now helping Matt LaFleur in Green Bay, and Douglas followed him out the door. Rodgers could soon join them.

Latest report indicates Jets could cut Aaron Rodgers before the end of the season

By trading for Rodgers, the Jets went all-in on winning a Super Bowl. It sounds like they have abandoned that plan and hit the reset button. New York is on its bye, but it's now uncertain who will start at quarterback when the team returns to action in Week 13.

According to The Athletic's Dianna Russini, the Jets could bench or cut Rodgers during the season.

"I'm told no decisions have been made yet, but it appears increasingly likely that the four-time MVP, who is banged up, could be placed on injured reserve or possibly benched over the next few weeks," Russini writes. "Some around the league say they won't be surprised if Rodgers is cut in-season."

Wow. It's hard to blame them, either. The Jets are 3-8 and have no shot at the playoffs, let alone winning the Super Bowl. Keeping Rodgers in the starting lineup gives them at least a chance to pick up wins between now and January, and their best bet is to hit the reset button and hope for a better draft position. After all, they now need a quarterback.

Russini added that Rodgers wants to keep playing in 2025, "just not for the New York Jets."

RELATED: Aaron Rodgers' next team has become painfully obvious for Packers fans

It's unclear where this leaves Rodgers. Wanting to play is one thing, but finding the right opportunity is another. Is there a team only a quarterback away from competing for a Super Bowl? Would that team want to sign Rodgers?

The Jets don't play this week, but it hasn't stopped the drama. The next seven days will be particularly fascinating. Having already parted ways with their head coach and general manager, Rodgers' exit has become inevitable.

It's now a matter of when, not if. Based on The Athletic's report, it won't be surprising if Rodgers has played his final snap for the Jets.

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