Aaron Rodgers' brief confrontation with Giants lineman highlighted in 'Hard Knocks'
Aaron Rodgers played in a preseason game for the first time since 2018 on Saturday, and his brief action naturally made it into the final chapter of this week's "Hard Knocks" episode on HBO airing Tuesday.
Rodgers finished the game 5 for 8 for 47 yards and a touchdown to receiver Garrett Wilson. The score came one play after a run-in with New York Giants defensive lineman Jihad Ward.
Ward gave Rodgers a nudge after a short pass to Mecole Hardiman, prompting a chippy response from Rodgers.
"I don't know who you are bro, never heard of you," Rodgers chided.
Ward has been in the league since 2016 and is one of his team's vocal leaders on defense, though he was quiet about the interaction after the game. He was credited with two quarterback hits and a tackle for loss when the Giants beat the Packers in London last year.
After Rodgers threw the touchdown pass, he sought out Ward for one final word. On the sideline, Rodgers joked that Ward's initial response was to volley the taunt back to Rodgers and that he didn't know who Rodgers was, either.
"And I said bullshit," Rodgers told his teammates with a laugh.
Rodgers told reporters that among his comments on the field to Ward were, "Wait for 'Hard Knocks.'" The teams are scheduled to meet again in a regular-seaosn game Oct. 29.
Ex-Packers receiver Randall Cobb also produced a moment of levity in the game when he was flagged for a blindside block.
"Cobby lost all his (expletive) training camp money," Rodgers jested. "What are you doing brother? This ain't 2014!"
Rodgers was referring to stricter rules governing the legality of those blocks.
"I forgot! I blacked out! I haven't hit nobody in a while," Cobb protested.
The season finale of "Hard Knocks" will air next Tuesday, two days before the start of the regular season. The Jets will face off with Buffalo on "Monday Night Football" in Week 1.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: 'Hard Knocks' shows Aaron Rodgers' first preseason game since 2018
