Garrett Wilson talks about the return of Aaron Rodgers and their chemistry
It’s been a full year since we’ve seen Aaron Rodgers in an NFL game, and Garrett Wilson explains how excited he is to get another chance to work with the Hall of Fame-bound quarterback.
Sport in Seriousness
Aaron Rodgers is back in the spotlight on Monday Night Football. Let’s hope this season doesn’t start out like his last.
To conclude the first week of the 2024-25 NFL season, Rodgers and the New York Jets will face the NFC champion San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football.
Rodgers is returning from a torn Achilles sustained in the Monday Night Football opener last season, which left him playing just four games before he was ruled out for the rest of the year.
The 49ers begin their season coming off a failed Super Bowl run last year and an emotional week following a harrowing incident involving rookie receiver Ricky Pearsall, who is recovering from a gunshot wound during an attempted robbery.
The 49ers will host the Jets on Monday night at 8:20 p.m. ET (5:20 p.m. local time) at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
How to watch the Jets vs. 49ers on Monday Night Football
The game between the San Francisco 49ers and the New York Jets will be broadcast nationally on ABC and ESPN.
Will there be a live stream of the New York Jets game against the San Francisco 49ers?
The Monday Night Football game can be streamed on ESPN+ and Fubo.
What are the betting odds for the New York Jets vs San Francisco 49ers game?
According to BETMGM, the 49ers (-200) are the moneyline favorites over the Jets (+165) with an over/under of 43.5 points and a spread of 3.5 points.
Spotlight on the quarterbacks: Aaron Rodgers vs. Brock Purdy
Four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers returns to action after his torn Achilles spoiled his debut with the Jets after 18 seasons with the Green Bay Packers. Will Rodgers find his MVP form or play like a 40-year-old? While Tom Brady may have misinterpreted the second part of that question, Rodgers must prove he’s worth all the excitement in New York. He’ll rely on running back Breece Hall and wide receiver Garrett Wilson to find his form on offense.
Brock Purdy, 24, returns for his third season as the 49ers’ starting quarterback. He may still have a lot to prove to skeptics who question his abilities, but he has a 17-4 record in the regular season and a 4-2 record in the playoffs over two seasons. With one of the most talented cores in the NFL, including running back Christian McCaffrey, receivers Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk, and left tackle Trent Williams, Purdy should help the 49ers shine again offensively this season.
Notable Player: 49ers Running Back Christian McCaffrey
It’s easy to list Rodgers here for obvious reasons, but the 49ers’ star running back has been dealing with a calf injury for most of training camp. McCaffrey’s effectiveness, depending on his workload, could force the 49ers to rely more on Purdy in the opening game if he’s not healthy. While rest during training camp should help McCaffrey, it’s still something to keep an eye on Monday night.
Predictions for the Jets vs. 49ers game on Monday
Here are the USA TODAY Sports editors’ predictions for the Monday Night Football opener:
- Jarrett Bell: Jets 20-19
- Chris Bumbaca: Jets 22-19
- Nate Davis: Jets 24-20
- Safid Deen: 49ers 27-17
- Tyler Dragon: 49ers 23-20
- Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz: Jets 24-23
- Lorenzo Reyes: 49ers 21-18
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