Where in the world is Aaron Rodgers? Is Jets QB on ayahuasca trip, visiting RFK Jr., seeing Taylor Swift?
Where in the world is Aaron Rodgers?
With the Jets on the practice field again Wednesday in Florham Park, there is still no sign of the 40-year-old quarterback, who head coach Robert Saleh said Tuesday had an unexcused absence from this week’s mandatory minicamp.
Saleh said Tuesday that Rodgers had an “event that was important to him,” and the coach insisted Wednesday that he and Rodgers “are on the exact same page.”
There’s yet to be any clarity on what event Rodgers is attending, or why it is more important than the first mandatory practices since the end of last season, during which Rodgers tore his Achilles four plays into Week 1.
So, where is he?
Is he on an ayahuasca retreat?
Rodgers is a well-known enthusiast of ayahuasca, a plant-based psychedelic normally brewed into a tea.
His most recently documented ayahuasca trip was in March, when he was on a retreat in Costa Rica, when news broke that presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was considering him as a potential running mate for his 2024 run at the White House as an independent.
Pat McAfee, on whose show Rodgers has caused several controversies, confirmed at the time that Rodgers was on the retreat — which included Dolphins safety Jordan Poyer, among others.
Is he on another healing mission ahead of training camp?
ProFootballTalk noted there was an ayahuasca retreat starting in Peru on Wednesday and another had started in Colombia.
Etnikas Integrative Medicine hosts three-, five- and seven-day retreats in Cusco, Peru. They had options for all three beginning Wednesday.
The three-day retreat costs $700, the five-day costs $1,100 and the seven-day $1,700.
“Etnikas has a multi-disciplinary health team consisting of a Cardiologist, Psychiatrist, Psychologist and General Practitioner who complement the highly experienced native Andean and Amazonian shaman,” the company’s website says, adding a doctor is present during the ayahuasca ceremony.
Ayahuasca retreats can also be found in Portugal.
Etnikas Integrative Medicine hosts three-day, five-day and seven-day retreats in Cusco, Peru. They had options for all three beginning Wednesday.
The three-day retreat costs $700, the five-day retreat costs $1,100 and the seven-day retreat costs $1,700.
“Etnikas has a multi-disciplinary health team consisting of a Cardiologist, Psychiatrist, Psychologist and General Practitioner who complement the highly experienced native Andean and Amazonian shaman,” the company’s website says, adding a doctor is present during the ayahuasca ceremony.
Ayahuasca retreats can also be found in Portugal.
Friends of the Vine Retreats has a three-day retreat starting Friday for about $780 at a Portuguese Quinta “in a quiet rural area outside of Lisbon,” per its website.
The company is run by Stefan, who used to be in the UK military; Fatima, whose passion for plant medicine began five years ago after her heart was broken “one too many times”; and Joao, an industrial designer who is a native of Portugal.
Is he with RFK Jr.?
Rodgers, a friend of Kennedy’s, turned down a chance to be his running mate in the 2024 election.
The quarterback has voiced support for Kennedy on social media, though it’s unclear if he will be stumping for him at any official events in the lead-up to the election.
RFK Jr.’s next official campaign event is Thursday in Glendale, Calif., and he has another in Albuquerque, N.M., on Saturday.
Nicole Shanahan ended up being chosen as Kennedy’s running mate.
“I love Bobby,” Rodgers said during Jets OTAs last month. “We had a couple of really nice conversations. But there were really two options: It was retire and be his VP or keep playing, and I want to keep playing.”
Rodgers and Kennedy were photographed together in February, when they appeared to be on a hike.
Is he seeing Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour?
Rodgers is a Swiftie and attended two Eras Tour shows at MetLife Stadium last year.
Swift’s next concert is at Anfield in Liverpool on Thursday, and she’s playing there again Friday and Saturday with Paramore.
He attended the shows last year with Miles Teller and Teller’s wife, Keleigh.
“Incredible weekend at my new home #metlifestadium with some special friends Miles and @keleighteller, a bunch of new ones, and the legendary @taylorswift who absolutely rocked the house for 3 ¹/₂ hours each night!!!” Rodgers wrote on Instagram at the time.
