Jets’ Darnold eager to battle Rodgers, Packers

The Jets finish the season against the Green Bay Packers and New England Patriots, giving New York rookie Sam Darnold the chance to watch two of the best quarterbacks in NFL history — Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady — up close and personal.The Packers (5-8-1) face the Jets (4-10) tomorrow in East Rutherford, NJ. Green Bay is 0-7 on the road.“Just the way (Rodgers is) able to see the field so fast, it’s almost like he knows what the defense is going to do before the snap. For him, it looks so easy and effortless,” Darnold said.“And he has probably the best arm talent that I’ve ever seen — debatably in the NFL’s entire history. He’s just really gifted throwing the football, but on top of that, he’s super smart, so we’ve got our hands full with him.”Bothered all season by a knee injury and now dealing with a groin injury, Rodgers only ranks 14th in the NFL this season in passer rating.“We have a guy coming in that to me is the best quarterback in the league when he’s healthy, and he’s going to be ready to play,” Pro Bowl Jets safety Jamal Adams said. “He’s a hell of a competitor, and I’m definitely looking forward to going up against him for the first time. I used to watch him as a little boy, and I’m definitely looking forward to the matchup.”Rodgers expects to be in the starting lineup, even with last week’s loss at Chicago officially ending Green Bay’s playoff hopes.“I think it’s a lot about leadership,” he said of not sitting out the final two games to begin the healing process. “If I want to be listened to and followed and looked up to, how could I stand here and say that these games that don’t matter for playoffs, I’m going to cash it in? That’s just not the way I lead, and I’m super-competitive, and I want to be out there with the guys, and I look forward to being out there.”Both teams have been riddled by injuries in the backfield, and that means both quarterbacks could be throwing it around Met Life Stadium.Green Bay has 14 players on injured reserve, most recently running back Aaron Jones, who leads the NFL in yards per attempt (5.5). The Jets’ leading rushers, Isaiah Crowell and Bilal Powell, are both on IR. New York listed 19 players on Wednesday’s injury report before putting right tackle Brandon Shell on IR. Shell underwent left knee surgery Thursday.With Rodgers struggling, Jones out and Darnold going through rookie growing pains, the best offensive player on the field likely will be Packers receiver Davante Adams.With 100 receptions for 1,315 yards and 12 touchdowns, Adams has a chance to break the franchise records for catches (112) and yards (1,519). Rodgers intends to give his Pro Bowl receiver every chance.“He’s been a lot of fun to throw to this year,” Rodgers said. “He’s a fantastic wide receiver. The great thing about Davante is the way that he practices. He’s a fantastic professional. He’s got a great approach to the game.“I would love for him to break some records. The fact that he’s put up these numbers already... is fantastic. I’d love to get him over those records because we’ve been around for a long time.”