The Jets’ offense has been inconsistent through the first two weeks of the regular season, but quarterback Aaron Rodgers has made some throws that show he can still throw the ball like he has in the past.

What was less clear was whether Rodgers still had the same escape ability in the pocket that he did before his torn Achilles. He provided an answer to that question on the second play of Thursday night’s game against the Patriots. Rodgers eluded pass rushers and ran five yards for a first down to begin a night in which he ran three times for 18 total yards.

Rodgers also connected 6-of-6 times on throws outside the pocket and head coach Robert Saleh said it was a good sign that Rodgers had regained his full capabilities.

“Yeah, the cool thing was he showed the mobility that we saw in training camp,” Saleh said, via a team transcript. “Like I said, he may not be what he used to be, but he’s still got plenty in his legs, and his arm’s still 30, and his mind’s still functioning at a high level. He was definitely impressive today.”

Thursday night was a showcase for what the Jets hoped to see when they traded Rodgers before the 2023 season. It was delayed by injury, but it will be a case of better late than never if it’s a sign of things to come.