New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers suffered a season-ending injury on his fourth play of the game against the Buffalo Bills on Monday night. The four-time NFL MVP tore his left Achilles tendon after being sacked by veteran pass rusher Leonard Floyd. Rodgers had to be helped off the field and was later carted to the locker room. X-rays on his ankle were negative, but an MRI on Tuesday confirmed the worst-case scenario for the Jets and their fans.
Rodgers, who was traded to the Jets from the Green Bay Packers in the offseason, was expected to bring stability and leadership to the quarterback position. The Jets gave up a first-round pick, a second-round pick, a sixth-round pick, and a conditional 2024 second-round pick (which becomes a first-rounder if Rodgers plays 65% of the snaps in 2023) to acquire the Super Bowl champion, five-time All-Pro, and 10-time Pro Bowler. However, their hopes of making a playoff run with Rodgers at the helm were dashed in a matter of seconds.
Zach Wilson takes over as Jets starter
With Rodgers out for the year, the Jets will turn to Zach Wilson, the former No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft, as their starting quarterback. Wilson, who had a disappointing rookie season with the Jets, was the backup to Rodgers and entered the game after his injury. Wilson completed 18 of 27 passes for 202 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception in the Jets’ 22-16 overtime win over the Bills. He also ran for 34 yards on six carries.
Wilson showed some flashes of his potential but also made some mistakes, such as throwing an interception in the red zone and taking a sack on third down in overtime. He will have to improve his decision-making and consistency if he wants to lead the Jets to more victories. Wilson will have some weapons to work with, such as wide receivers Corey Davis and Elijah Moore, tight end Tyler Kroft, and running back Michael Carter. He will also have the support of his teammates and coaches, who expressed their confidence in him after the game.
“I think Zach is ready,” Davis said. “He’s been preparing like a starter since he got here. He’s a great leader and a great player. We have his back 100 percent.”
“Zach is a very talented young man,” coach Robert Saleh said. “He has a lot of potential and a lot of room to grow. He’s going to learn from this experience and get better every week. He’s our guy moving forward and we believe in him.”
Aaron Rodgers eyes mid-December return
Despite suffering a devastating injury, Rodgers is not giving up on his NFL career. He told NBC’s Melissa Stark that he is targeting a mid-December return, which would be about three months after his surgery. Rodgers said he is optimistic about his recovery and hopes to play again this season.
“I’m not going to lie, it’s tough,” Rodgers said. “But I’m a fighter and I’m not going to let this stop me. I’m going to work hard and do everything I can to get back on the field as soon as possible. I love this game and I love this team. I want to be out there with them and help them win.”
Rodgers’ timeline is ambitious, considering that the average recovery time for an NFL player returning from a torn Achilles is about 9-12 months, according to a 2010 study published in Lower Extremity Review. The study also found that players returning from Achilles tears tend to play in fewer games and have lower performance levels the year following the injury. Rodgers, who is 39 years old, will have to overcome these challenges and prove that he can still play at a high level after his injury.
Rodgers said he is inspired by other athletes who have come back from similar injuries, such as Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, and Richard Sherman. He also said he is grateful for the support he has received from his family, friends, teammates, coaches, and fans.
“I want to thank everyone who has reached out to me and shown me love,” Rodgers said. “It means a lot to me and it motivates me to keep going. I’m not done yet. I still have a lot to give to this game and this team. I’ll be back.”
