By DENNIS WASZAK Jr. AP Pro Football Writer
Aaron Rodgers’ debut season with the New York Jets is already over. It didn’t even final one quarter.
The 39-year-old quarterback has a torn left Achilles tendon that can require season-ending surgical procedure, Coach Robert Saleh introduced Tuesday. The Jets positioned Rodgers on the injured reserve checklist.
An MRI revealed the severity of the four-time NFL MVP’s damage, confirming what the Jets feared after their 22-16 extra time victory over Buffalo on Monday night time. Saleh stated throughout a video name he was not instantly sure when the quarterback would have surgical procedure.
Torn Achilles tendons usually take a number of months of restoration because of the in depth rehabilitation wanted.
“I feel more for Aaron than anyone,” Saleh stated. “He’s invested so much into this organization, so much into this journey that he’s embarked on and wanting to be a part of what we’ve got going here. And how much he’s invested in not only this organization, but his teammates, himself, this fan base, the city, so I have a lot of emotions for him.”
On his fourth regular-season snap in a Jets uniform, Rodgers tried to keep away from a speeding Leonard Floyd, who wrapped up the quarterback and spun him all the way down to the MetLife Stadium turf. Rodgers stood up after a number of moments, seemed over to the Jets’ sideline after which sat on the turf – seemingly realizing he was severely damage.
He wanted assist from trainers to get to the sideline, the place he was taken to the blue medical tent to be examined. Rodgers then bought on a cart to go to the locker room, hopped off close to the tunnel and limped inside.
Zach Wilson changed Rodgers simply 3:45 into the sport and completed 14 of 21 for 140 yards with a landing move to Garrett Wilson and an interception within the victory.
The third-year quarterback, who was the No. 2 general decide within the 2021 NFL Draft, will now begin for the Jets on Sunday at Dallas – and the foreseeable future.
Saleh stated third-stringer Tim Boyle could be promoted from the observe squad and the Jets would discover their choices to discover a backup quarterback.
“We are going to look through some things, but I do want to make it very clear: Zach’s our quarterback,” Saleh stated. “We’ve got a lot of faith in Zach. We’re really excited about his opportunity, but we’re rolling with Zach and excited for this and excited for him.”
Wilson praised the work Rodgers did with him through the offseason and coaching camp, serving to him really feel “a lot more prepared” to take the following step in his growth.
“The hardest part is now putting it into a game and I’ve got to be able to do that,” Wilson stated Monday night time. “Going into this week, it’s applying everything that he’s kind of helped walk us through and being able to watch him and the coaches, how they’ve handled this offense. I’ve got to be able to handle that efficiently.”
Rodgers, who spent his first 18 seasons with Green Bay, was acquired by the Jets in April and instantly raised expectations for the annoyed franchise.
He gave the Jets their most completed quarterback since Brett Favre, who was acquired from Green Bay in 2008 – clearing the best way for Rodgers to turn out to be the Packers’ sign caller.
Rodgers, who repeatedly has stated he gained’t be one-and-done with the Jets, agreed in July to a restructured contract that offers him $75 million in absolutely assured cash over this season and subsequent.
But now, he’ll must concentrate on a prolonged restoration and rehabilitation course of, which might make his enjoying future unsure.
Saleh expects Rodgers to proceed to stay with the group and assist all through the remainder of the season.
“I think I speak for everyone in the organization, we all want him here,” Saleh stated. “We all want him to be connected, and I think he wants to be here.”
The state of affairs evoked eerily related reminiscences of 1999, when Vinny Testaverde – who, coincidentally, was the Jets’ honorary captain Monday night time – ruptured his Achilles tendon early in New York’s season opener in opposition to New England.
Like this yr’s squad, these Jets had Super Bowl aspirations after going to the AFC championship recreation the earlier season. New York as a substitute completed 8-8 and missed the playoffs.
Rodgers’ damage introduced up some debate in soccer circles as as to if the enjoying floor was a contributing issue. Saleh stated he didn’t suppose it was as a result of it wasn’t a noncontact damage. MetLife Stadium has been criticized for its turf the previous couple of years due to a number of noncontact accidents, however the enjoying floor was changed earlier than this season.
With Rodgers out for the season, New York is not going to surrender a first-round draft decide to Green Bay subsequent yr as a part of the commerce’s phrases. It will stay a second-round decide that might have turn out to be a first-rounder if Rodgers had performed 65% of the Jets’ performs this season.
The Packers additionally acquired the thirteenth general decide, a second-rounder and a sixth-rounder on this yr’s draft in change for Rodgers, the No. 15 general decide and a fifth-rounder this yr.
Source: www.bostonherald.com