Rodgers played 37 snaps in the Jets’ 2024 season-opening loss on Monday night.

Jets head coach Robert Saleh admitted Tuesday that it feels better to be 0-1 this year than 1-0 last season.

“You know what it does, unfortunately, because I know we’re going to improve on defense,” Saleh said, via team report, the day after a 32-19 loss in the season opener to the San Francisco 49ers.

In addition to Saleh’s confidence that his defense will rebound after allowing eight scoring drives against the 49ers, he is optimistic about Rodgers’ health.

After a sunny offseason upon Rodgers’ arrival, clouds quickly enveloped Gotham at this time a year ago after the four-time AP NFL Most Valuable Player tore his Achilles tendon just one quarter into the game. The Jets rallied for an overtime victory over the Buffalo Bills thanks to an electric, game-winning punt return from Xavier Gipson, but the forecast was still bleak.

Although Rodgers was replaced by Tyrod Taylor on Monday and technically has yet to play a single game for the Jets, he came through Monday unscathed. Rodgers made no excuses after the loss and vowed to play better as the season progressed.

Rodgers was in vintage form at times Monday night, but by the end of the night he was 13 of 21 for 167 yards, a touchdown to Allen Lazard and an interception. The loss was also Saleh’s first real game experience with Rodgers after such a truncated debut the season before. The head coach liked what he saw and appreciated how Rodgers handled the issues.

“You know, there’s no panic in him,” Saleh said. “He was a calm force on the touchline and I think he got a lot of closure last night in terms of finishing a game and finishing it out, and I think I speak for everyone, especially on the attacking side of the ball, there’s a lot of confidence on that side.”

It’s no surprise that Saleh is adamant that his 40-year-old future Hall of Famer will lead a successful offense.

“Our offense will be very good this year,” Saleh said.

And that also applies to the defense, he assured.

“It’s a 17-game season, 16 of which we still have to play. It won’t be a problem to get the defense in order,” Saleh said.

It’s been the Jets’ guiding principle since Saleh arrived in 2021. Despite being the No. 3 defense in yards allowed last season, New York was just 7-10 with the 31^st-ranked attack.

That, at least as importantly, is why 0-1 with a healthy Rodgers felt better on Tuesday than 1-0 without Rodgers a year ago.