Newly acquired New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers suffered a season-ending injury in his debut with the team. Over the 2023 NFL offseason, Rodgers ended his 18-year stint with the Green Bay Packers to join the Jets. The Jets' trade for Rodgers during the offseason brought high expectations for Jets fans, giving them hope they could clinch a playoff spot for the first time since the 2010 Season. Rodgers tore his Achilles tendon on only the fourth play.
"At halftime, I just went in to check on him in the training room, And, you know, just made sure I hugged him, told him I love him. You know, it hurt my heart. He told me just, ‘Sorry, kid,” Jets Wide receiver Garret Wilson said to ESPN Radio's Bart and Hahn show.
Before the season started, I had the Jets going all the way to the AFC championship, winning at least 12 games. The Jets were quite literally one piece away from being a serious contender, and that piece that was missing was replaced with all-time great quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Seeing Rodgers go down brings the Jets back to where they were a year ago. Upsetting to see especially with how good their team is, but it’s the way it is,” NHS junior John Sclafani said.
With just 11:36 left in the first quarter, Rodgers dropped back to pass, when Buffalo Bills edge rusher Leonard Floyd came off the edge to sack Rodgers. Rodgers attempted to escape the sack, but in his effort, Floyd ended up getting to him. As Rodgers went down his foot planted into the turf ground, putting too much pressure at an awkward position. After the play was over, Rodgers stood up, before slowly going back to the ground and grabbing his left calf. The next day, the MRI confirmed he had torn his Achilles tendon, ending his season.
“When he got up you could see the agonized look on his face. When he went to the ground, not only did he realize this was serious, but so did the fans. The entire stadium went silent. They now have to go back to Zach Wilson, who is nowhere near Rodgers's level. The Jets still pulled away with the win, but at the end of the day, they lost,” NHS junior Mikey Quesenberry said.
The Jet's backup quarterback Zach Wilson now has the opportunity to take control of an offense that he is familiar with. Zach Wilson started last year with six touchdowns to seven interceptions before getting benched halfway through the season. Wilson is now the starter for the foreseeable future for the New York Jets.
“Even with the loss of Rodgers, the Jets still have a really good team. Although Zach Wilson is comparable to Rodgers, he’s a different quarterback than he was a year ago, as all offseason he was able to learn from Rodgers. The Jets have a tough schedule for the next couple of weeks, but if Zach Wilson can step up with Rodgers out, I wouldn’t be surprised if they were still a contender,” NHS junior Marco D’amico said.
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