FLORHAM PARK, N.J.—The loud “Aaron! Rodgers!” chants started almost as soon as the New York Jets quarterback stepped on the practice field.
The cheers turned near deafening Saturday when Rodgers acknowledged the fans with a quick wave.
“That’s my QB! Let’s go!” someone shouted.
“Surreal!” said another.
The Jets’ third practice of training camp marked the first session open to the public—giving about 2,000 ecstatic fans their first in-person glimpse of their team’s new quarterback.
“It’s exciting, you feel the energy from the fans,” said Claudio Juarez, a 43-year-old from the New York City borough of Queens. “It’s like, you wake up and you’re like, ‘Hello, Mr. Rodgers! Good morning!’ And everybody’s like, ‘Good morning!’ It’s hype, it’s exciting and it’s a lot of optimism that has been lacking in the past.”…