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FRISCO, Texas — Regardless of the historical past concerned, or perhaps due to it, Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons is just a little upset he is not going to be enjoying in opposition to Aaron Rodgers when the New York Jets come to AT&T Stadium on Sunday (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS).

“I know how great he is and I loved the matchup last year,” Parsons stated of the 31-28 extra time loss to Rodgers when the quarterback was nonetheless with the Inexperienced Bay Packers. “It left a bitter taste and people always talk about how Rodgers dominates Dallas when he plays in Dallas, so it would’ve been nice to break that curse. But I hope he gets healthy and I hope he comes back next year.”

Rodgers’ season ended in opposition to the Buffalo Payments on Monday evening when he suffered a torn left Achilles 4 performs into his tenure with the Jets. However he has an 8-2 report as a starter in opposition to the Cowboys, together with a pair of playoff wins. In complete, he has 17 landing passes and two interceptions in opposition to Dallas. He has had 100 straight regular-season passes in opposition to the Cowboys with out an interception.

And now the Cowboys need to prepare for Zach Wilson, who has 54,893 fewer yards and 459 fewer landing passes than Rodgers.

“I can’t really say what they will or won’t do based on Aaron not being there,” security Jayron Kearse stated. “Aaron played four snaps for the New York Jets, so you don’t have much tape on him as a New York Jet anyway. I don’t know if the game plan is going to change or stay the same, but I know my only job is to go out there and do my job and play good football for the Dallas Cowboys’ defense.”

Coach Mike McCarthy acknowledged his protection was excited in regards to the problem of going through Rodgers.

“That’s only natural to play against a great player,” McCarthy stated. “But at the end of the day, we need to get to 2-0. Our focus has been good. That’s what we’re looking at.”

For McCarthy, Rodgers’ absence is extra private. He was Rodgers’ coach with the Packers from 2006 to 2018. They gained Tremendous Bowl XLV collectively and went to 4 NFC Championship Video games. When he noticed Rodgers go down Monday, he considered a 2018 matchup in opposition to the Chicago Bears when he was informed at halftime that Rodgers was finished for the season with a knee harm solely to see him throw for 3 touchdowns within the second half and never miss a sport.

“That’s what I was hoping was going to happen,” McCarthy stated.

Then actuality hit when the analysis was a torn Achilles. McCarthy despatched a textual content message to Rodgers, expressing his sorrow. Earlier than the Cowboys performed the Packers final season at Lambeau Subject, McCarthy and Rodgers have been capable of share a non-public second collectively. Then Rodgers threw three landing passes, together with two within the fourth quarter to beat a 28-14 Cowboys lead on the way in which to the Packers’ extra time victory.

“It’s great to compete against people you care about. Him and I have been through a lot together,” McCarthy stated. “I have a tremendous amount of love for him. This is tough. I know he was very excited about this chapter in his life, and I was looking forward to seeing him this weekend. You can see how precious these opportunities are. Every game is such a special opportunity, to compete in this league. I think we’re all feeling for him personally.”

A number of Cowboys defenders stated Rodgers’ absence may encourage the Jets.

“I feel like they got something even more to fight for,” nostril sort out Johnathan Hankins stated. “They ain’t got their captain, their leader, out there. They’re going to look at it as if he was playing and just take that mindset and go out there and compete.”

Even when Rodgers have been accessible, the Cowboys anticipate the Jets would look to depend on operating backs Breece Corridor and Dalvin Prepare dinner. Corridor had 127 yards in opposition to the Payments, together with an 83-yarder.

The Jets additionally function one of many sport’s high younger broad receivers in Garrett Wilson, who gained Offensive Rookie of the Yr in 2022 and made an amazing catch on a fade ball for a landing from Wilson final week. Wilson may also have some veterans to take a look at in Randall Cobb, Allen Lazard and Mecole Hardman Jr.

“I mean, if Aaron Rodgers was playing, what would we be talking about, how we’re going to be stopping the pass?” DeMarcus Lawrence puzzled. “I feel like we have a defense capable of stopping anything. Just all about us going out there and doing it.”

Within the Cowboys’ 40-0 Week 1 win in opposition to the New York Giants, the protection was dominant. It recorded the franchise’s first season-opening shutout since 1995. It had the second-most sacks (seven) in a season opener in workforce historical past. It had three takeaways. The Giants’ offense had 11 performs with unfavorable yards.

Whether or not Rodgers performed or not, that was one thing the protection needed to repeat in Week 2.

“It’s not, ‘Oh, we’re going in to play a great game,’ and then, ‘Ah, we played a great game, and now we’re relaxing,’” Kearse stated. “Nah, we’re trying to do this for 20-plus games, because we know in order to get to where we need to get to, we have to continue to do this. It can’t be a one-and-done thing. It can’t be an every-two-week thing. It has to be a thing continuously, week in, week out.”