'No One Really Cares!' Rams' Mike LaFleur, Ex Jets Coach, Talks Aaron Rodgers Injury
It's been just over eight months since the New York Jets parted ways with offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur, but the two are back together in headlines.
LaFleur, now the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams, was asked Thursday about the season-ending Achilles injury that Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers suffered on Monday night and explained the perspective he'd take from a coaching perspective.
“The show goes on," LaFleur said. "No one really cares. (I’ve) been part of a lot of different teams. I've had a lot of injuries. Last year, they had a lot of injuries here. No one really cares. The show goes on and you move on and that's why you have the rosters you have and that's why you keep developing the guys that you got."
Mike's older brother, Matt, coached Rodgers across four seasons with the Green Bay Packers, though the younger LaFleur didn't cross paths with the four-time MVP.
LaFleur and the Jets split after two years that netted a pair of bottom-eight finishes in total offense and saw No. 2 overall pick Zach Wilson not develop into the franchise quarterback New York anticipated.
In Los Angeles, LaFleur isn't the play-caller, as head coach Sean McVay has the honors. It's designed to be another learning experience for the 36-year-old and a chance to reinvent his career after a difficult two years with the Jets.
That said, LaFleur's attention is elsewhere; as a coach, he downplayed the need to worry about "that kind of stuff," meaning potential season-changing injuries, and while he said he has sympathy for Rodgers' situation, the harsh reality is that teams can't mourn for very long.
"Your heart breaks for a guy like Aaron Rogers, right? I mean, for anyone that's losing their season because they love it and they put so much time into it," LaFleur said. "But as a coach, if you're thinking about it for longer than 30 seconds, you've already lost that 30 seconds.
"You got to move on because the league's not waiting.”
The Jets and Rams aren't scheduled to play this season, meaning Rodgers' injury isn't particularly relevant to Los Angeles' campaign - but even if it was, LaFleur seems to be set on his stance when it comes to injuries.
Both the Jets and Rams will be back in action Sunday afternoon, with New York set to kick off at 1:25 p.m. PST against the Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles poised for a 1:05 p.m. PST start vs. the San Francisco 49ers.
