Julian Edelman Says Aaron Rodgers Missing Mandatory Minicamp Is 'A Bad Look'

Julian Edelman is calling out Aaron Rodgers for missing the New York Jets' mandatory minicamp.

In case you haven't heard, Rodgers was an "unexcused absence" during Jets workouts from June 11 to 13 — with rumors swirling that the four-time NFL MVP was on another one of his famous ayahuasca retreats. In an appearance on The Herd with Colin Cowherd on Friday, Edelman admitted that he thought it was a "bad look" for Rodgers not to be there for his teammates.

"I think it’s a bad look for your leader, for whatever reason, to go and miss [a mandatory minicamp]," Edelman said. "I was with Tom Brady in his 25th year or 23rd year, and he started missing OTAs here and there, but he never missed a mandatory minicamp. I just thought it was a bad look."

Edelman spent 12 years in the league — all with the New England Patriots. With Brady as his QB, the former wide receiver racked up three Super Bowl wins, a Super Bowl MVP award, and he's a member of the Patriots All-Dynasty Team.

"I’m a big Aaron Rodgers fan, but if I was in that locker room, and Aaron Rodgers wasn’t there for three days on the mandatory minicamp, having played four snaps off of an injury when we have two new receivers, a bunch of new linemen that we added to the team, with a CBA that doesn’t allow us to practice a lot, I guarantee there’s four or five guys — six, seven, eight, nine guys in that locker room — sitting there like, ‘Where’s he at?’" Edelman said.

Julian Edelman Says All Eyes Are On Aaron Rodgers

Rodgers, of course, came to New York with massive hype in 2023 — only to have all that excitement shattered by a torn Achilles tendon just four plays into the Jets' Week 1 game against the Buffalo Bills. Now, Gang Green is hoping for a much-better 2024. But it won't be easy. The Jets will open the season playing their first three games over a span of just 10 days.

READ: Mike Florio Argues Prime Time Heavy Schedule Isn't Great For Jets Players

"God forbid the New York Jets start 1-3 at the beginning of the season, which they start with the Niners, Tennessee, Patriots and someone else regardless [the Broncos]," Edelman said. "We all know the Patriots are no good, but that defense is still the same defense, and that’s who Aaron goes against. If they go 1-3, this is going to be such a big distraction for that locker room. Because everyone is going to be talking about it."

Aaron Rodgers speaks to the media during OTAs.

(Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

Edelman's right: The optics aren't great. And maybe his absence doesn't set a great example for the young players who look up to him. 

In fairness to Rodgers, though, the 10-time Pro Bowler was present at some Jets OTAs this spring, and he (presumably) will be on hand when Training Camp opens next month. So this all could be much ado about nothing.

Because if the Jets are winning and 40-year-old Rodgers plays like the future Hall of Famer he is… no one is going to care where he was in June.