After an ugly loss, the Jets make Aaron Rodgers’ decision to play the Dolphins

Anyone hoping to see another quarterback for the Jets will have to wait.

The Jets are sticking with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback for next week’s game against the Dolphins, even though they have lost eight of their last nine games and fell short again on Sunday with a 26-21 loss to the Seahawks.

“We have great confidence in Aaron. We really do,” interim coach Jeff Ulbrich said Monday morning. “We believe he gives us the best chance to win. After assessing yesterday’s game, I thought there were moments in the first half where you could see Aaron Rodgers. I thought there were moments even in the second half where you saw Aaron Rodgers. Then there were moments when he wasn’t playing at his level and he would tell you the same thing. We believe he gives us the best chance to win, so he’s our quarterback.”

Immediately after the game on Sunday, Ulbrich exceptionally left the door open, but on Monday morning he slammed it shut.

Rodgers, who turned 41 on Monday, has struggled this season and the Jets ended their ninth straight losing season with Sunday’s loss. Technically they are still alive for the playoffs, but at 3-9 there is no realistic chance, meaning the Jets will miss the playoffs for the 14th straight year, the longest drought in the major North American leagues Sports.

All of this has led to questions about whether the Jets should bench the future Hall of Famer, something that would have been unthinkable earlier in the year. Tyrod Taylor is the Jets’ backup quarterback.

Ulbrich pointed out that injuries have held Rodgers back this year. He struggled with ankle, knee and hamstring injuries in October but said he is now fully healthy. He was not on the injury report last week for the first time since Week 4.

“The games where he was really healthy go back to the Patriots’ second game, and then that game, I thought his mobility was coming back,” Ulbrich said, possibly referring to the Patriots’ first game in September. “Obviously I think the injury has a lot to do with his numbers this season. He fought through many things, no matter how old you are. What he has is something that some people in this league might not want to play with. He is a tough guy and feels a high level of responsibility towards his teammates. That’s why he’s there for us every week. We believe we will see a better version of him as he gets healthier and his mobility increases.”

Rodgers hasn’t thrown for 300 yards in a game this season. On Sunday, he had 185 passing yards and two touchdowns, but threw a costly interception that Seahawks defender Leonard Williams returned 92 yards for a touchdown.

On the play before, Rodgers missed a wide-open Garrett Wilson in the end zone.

Ulbrich said Rodgers’ ancestry played a role in the decision.

“It’s part of every conversation about Aaron,” Ulbrich said. “He did amazing things. He did legendary things. Hall of Fame stuff in this league. That’s always part of the conversation.”

Ulbrich did not want to say how much influence owner Woody Johnson had on the decision.

“We have good, healthy conversations, Woody and I. I want to keep that secret,” said Ulbrich.

As for the rest of the season, Ulbrich was asked if this was a week-by-week decision or if Rodgers was the guy for the remaining five games if he was healthy.

“He’s our quarterback,” Ulbrich replied.