Zach Wilson must have made an impression on Aaron Rodgers. Following Wednesday's joint practice between the Packers and Jets, Rodgers shared a photo of himself alongside the Jets rookie quarterback via his Instagram account. The photo was from earlier in the day, when Rodgers initiated conversation with Wilson between drills.
Wilson spoke about the benefits of scrimmaging against a "Super Bowl-caliber team". He also benefitted from getting a chance to watch the reigning league MVP and future Hall of Fame quarterback do his thing. Wilson offered a specific example of what he learned observing Rodgers on Wednesday.
"The biggest thing I picked up was the two-minute drill, how cool and calm he is, like he's just messing around, playing backyard football. He just makes it work," Wilson said, via the Jets' official website. "The way he understands the game, what's going on, the way he's able to change things, pick things up and still stay calm is pretty impressive."
Zach Wilson. Aaron Rodgers.
— Jets Videos (@snyjets) August 18, 2021
Just two quarterbacks hanging out. pic.twitter.com/UuHmVXFVZn
Rodgers' calm demeanor is likely a result of his meditation regiment that he said he used to help him make a decision on whether or not to return to the Packers for a 17th season. Rodgers recently told Meadowlark Media's Dan Le Batard that he was "50/50" on resuming his career just days before arriving at Packers training camp. Rodgers also practices box breathing, which he says can heighten performance and concentration and can also be a strong stress reliever.
"I started doing it in terms when I felt stressed on the sidelines," Rodgers said. "Times where I felt anxious before two-minute drives, before the game. ... That stuff has really helped me, I think, over the last half-decade of being more present in those moments. Being less stressed, less anxiety, more focus, more able to have my thoughts readily come to mind and my actions be as quickly as I need them to be."
While the actual practice was largely forgettable, Wilson will likely never forget his meeting meeting with Rodgers. It will also probably not be the last time the 22-year-old quarterback reaches out to the Packers' 37-year-old signal-caller.
"Aaron's a cool guy," Wilson said. "He has a lot of knowledge. He's a smart dude. It was cool just to ask him about footwork, what's going on on the field, what he's seeing. If I could spend more time with him and ask him more questions, I would."
