NFL Exec: Aaron Rodgers' 'Skill Erosion Is Real'; Jets Need to Utilize Breece Hall

One NFL executive believes that the New York Jets will need to rely on their run game in order to make up for quarterback Aaron Rodgers' decline during his age-41 season.

"Rodgers' skill erosion is real," the executive told The Athletic's Jeff Howe. "Not being able to extend plays with his feet puts a lot of pressure on the offensive line to be firm up the middle and the playmakers to get open quicker. I won't be surprised if you see more of the screen game being put into their offense. They really need to ride Breece Hall more as a runner and pass catcher out of the backfield."

An anonymous NFL defensive coach gave Howe a similar assessment of Rodgers.

"(Rodgers is) trying to play as if he's 10 years younger, and he's not close to the same player," the anonymous defensive coach told Howe. "He can still throw it in a clean pocket with the best of the best, (but his) mobility is not the same. He's jumpy and has missed some throws I've never seen him miss.

"He needs the run game, play action, screen game more than ever, but that's not what he wants. He wants to play the way he's most comfortable. And he doesn't have the offensive line or skill group to play that way. Getting (Davante Adams) will help. There's always a chance he gets hot. I'll never underestimate his ability as long as he's still playing. He's always turned it on when people have doubted him the most."

The Jets are 2-6 and have lost five straight games heading into Thursday's matchup with the visiting Houston Texans. Rodgers, who turns 41 in December, has completed 59 percent of his passes and thrown seven touchdowns to six interceptions over the losing stretch.

The Jets' most recent loss was a 25-22 defeat by the New England Patriots on Sunday, during which their defense was unable to stop Jacoby Brissett and the Patriots from running in the game-winning touchdown in the final seconds of the fourth quarter.

The defensive struggles in New York, particularly since former head coach Robert Saleh was fired following a 2-3 start to the season, have been compounded by the Jets' inability to get their run game going under play-caller and previous passing game coordinator Todd Downing.

Through Week 8 the Jets have recorded 632 total rushing yards, second only to the Dallas Cowboys for the fewest in the NFL, while Hall has averaged under 14 carries per game.

Hall took the blame for Sunday's loss to the Patriots when speaking to reporters after he rushed 16 times for 80 yards.

"I had a few mistakes that I feel like cost us some drives, and I think I've got to do a better job of just helping out the offense," Hall said.

Rodgers has one of the smallest windows of time to throw in the NFL, per Next Gen Stats. That might be part of the reason the acquisition of Davante Adams from the Las Vegas Raiders ahead of Week 7 has yet to be a game-changer for the Jets. Through two games the wideout has made seven catches, the longest on a 16-yard throw.

Rodgers' passing struggles behind a flagging offensive line could lead interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich and Downing to turn to Hall in Week 9. The running back could be set for a big night on Thursday if the Jets decide to focus on their run game while working to end the team's five-game slump.