This isn’t how the Jets’ season was supposed to go.

They weren’t supposed to be 3-7, clinging to worsening playoff odds in Aaron Rodgers’ return from an Achilles tear.

They weren’t supposed to be a bottom-third offense, averaging only 298.5 yards and 17.7 points per game with weapons such as Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson and, as of four weeks ago, Davante Adams.

And they certainly weren’t supposed to be the subject of an ESPN deep dive exploring what’s gone wrong for Rodgers and the Jets.

But that’s where they find themselves.

On Wednesday, three days after a 31-6 loss to the Arizona Cardinals dropped the Jets’ playoff probability to 14%, according to NFL Next Gen Stats, ESPN published a long-form feature titled “Inside Aaron Rodgers’ complicated relationship with the Jets.”

In it, author Tim Keown writes about the dynamic between Rodgers and his teammates, and how Rodgers’ “ongoing torment of ‘bringing guys along’ and ‘being a better leader’ and ‘setting the tone’ always carries an undercurrent of superiority, a verbal pat on the head.”

“They talk about the nagging injuries and the shaky offensive line and the inability to sustain a running game,” Keown wrote. “They’re all lighting candles at the same altar. They say it’s a team game. They’re all in it together. One man can’t change a culture overnight. Mostly, though, they speak of him like he’s a famous piece of art.”

The 5,000-word report is the result of Keown spending three weeks of practice and four games around the Jets and Rodgers, who turns 41 next month.

The Jets acquired Rodgers, a four-time MVP, in a trade with the Green Bay Packers before the 2023 season, hoping to end a playoff drought that dates back to 2010 and a championship drought that goes back to 1969.

They entered last year with Super Bowl aspirations, but those quickly dissipated when Rodgers suffered his season-ending Achilles injury four snaps into Week 1.

The Super Bowl hopes returned in 2024, but the Jets have not met expectations, with five consecutive losses between Sept. 29 and Oct. 27 dropping them toward the bottom of the AFC standings.

Richardson gets starting QB spot back

Anthony Richardson showed the Indianapolis Colts over the past two weeks off the field that he could be their starting quarterback.

Again.

Two ugly losses might have helped convince Indy’s brain trust, too.

Either way, Richardson has won back the job.

Coach Shane Steichen announced Wednesday that he was making yet another quarterback change, handing the reins back to the 22-year-old Richardson while benching 39-year-old Joe Flacco.

“He’s going to be our starter again, he’s going to start for the rest of the season and we’re going to go from there,” Steichen said.

Briefly

Jaguars >> Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence will miss his second consecutive game because of an injury to his left, non-throwing shoulder.

Raiders >> Gardner Minshew will remain the Las Vegas Raiders’ quarterback when they visit the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.