ORCHARD PARK — The end appears near for Aaron Rodgers and the Jets.
Not just to this stunningly disappointing season, but maybe for good.
Sunday’s 40-14 loss to the Bills at Highmark Stadium, where Rodgers was shut out in the three quarters he played before being replaced by backup Tyrod Taylor, was a low point in a season of lows for the 41-year-old Hall of Fame-bound quarterback.
Rodgers completed just 12 of 18 passes for 112 yards and threw two interceptions in the defeat.
He was sacked four times for 26 yards in losses, including one for a safety.
The 112 yards was Rodgers’ lowest output since he was held to 104 in a 38-7 loss to the 49ers in 2019.
“It’s kind of like the season just got away from us,” Rodgers said. “Too many games got away from us. This game got away from us. We were moving the ball well and then we just hit a wall. And that’s kind of the season.’’
The Jets moved the ball well early in the game and got nothing out of it.
“The two times we played [the Bills] this year, we moved the ball pretty well and just hurt ourselves,” Rodgers said. “We scored more points in the first one (20). But when you watch that first one back, we had plenty of chances to win the game. Today, we moved the ball well the first two drives [and got] no points, and after half the game got away from us.’’
Rodgers, who’s been shut out only once in his career, was replaced by Taylor early in the fourth quarter. Taylor completed 11 of 14 passes for 83 yards and two touchdowns.
“Going out and competing as a competitor, that’s what you love to do,” Taylor said. “Obviously, you never want to be [playing] at the cost of injury or at a blowout. But obviously, when your number’s called, you have to go out there and perform. It was good to get out there and put some plays on film.”
As for Rodgers, his closest friend on the team, receiver Davante Adams, said, “For Aaron, a lot of this season has been plagued by injury. There have been some things he’s going through, and obviously he hasn’t been able to put his best product out there.
“It’s unfortunate. I think the competitor he is, based off the way the season is going, it would be hard for me to envision him not [playing]. But it’s not something I talk to him about. You’ve got to let people think about those type of situations.
“I think about what my future is like, and I ain’t 20 years into playing. If he were to step away, you can’t blame the guy. He’s put a lot into this and been one of the best quarterbacks to ever play this game. No matter what happens from this moment on, you can’t take that away from him.
“He’s 41 years old and playing this game at the level expected it’s not easy to do. I’m proud of him and I let him know that every time we’re together.”
Asked what his future holds, Rodgers said, “I’m going to enjoy next week and then take some mental and physical rest.”
