The New York Jets have confirmed that their star quarterback Aaron Rodgers is out for the season because of a torn Achilles tendon, an injury verified by an MRI scan earlier this week.

Introduction

On Tuesday, September 12th, 2023 the New York Jets The head coach of the New York Jets, Robert Saleh , has expressed his confidence in backup quarterback Zach Wilson as the new starter, dismissing concerns from fans who believe the team's chances for the playoffs are doomed after just one week of the 2023-2024 NFL season.

"I don't understand why people are counting us out so soon,\" said Saleh during a Zoom meeting with major sports media outlets.

Rodgers suffered his injury during the fourth play of the Jets' season opener, leading to his placement on injured reserve since his torn Achilles tendon will necessitate surgery for recovery.

The Injury

Although Saleh refrained from sharing specifics about Rodgers' recovery timeline, indications suggest that the Jets are hopeful their four-time MVP and the key player brought in during a blockbuster offseason will stay engaged with the team during his extensive rehabilitation process post-surgery.

The news of Rodgers' injury has ignited discussions about potential quarterback replacements for the Jets. While the team may be considering signing a veteran quarterback, Saleh reaffirmed that Wilson is firmly in the starting role and no one will be brought in to compete with their former first-round draft pick .

Replacing the Star QB

"Let me be very clear: Zach is our guy. We have a lot of confidence in Zach. This is his team, and we are committing to him,\" Saleh stated emphatically.

Wilson, who faced significant challenges last season, will be making his 23rd start in the NFL this Sunday against a formidable opponent.

This team is facing off against a rival who is currently on a winning streak after decisively beating another team last week. Dallas Cowboys The Jets plan to elevate journeyman QB Tim Boyle from their practice squad to serve as the interim backup quarterback. New York Giants Initially, the Jets intended for the 24-year-old Wilson to learn from Rodgers for a couple of seasons before reclaiming his starting position, but their plans were abruptly altered just minutes into their last Monday night matchup, where they narrowly triumphed over the Buffalo Bills 22 to 16 in overtime.

During a play where Rodgers was trying to evade the relentless pressure from Bills' defensive end Leonard Floyd , his left leg became ensnared in the turf at MetLife Stadium, resulting in a ruptured Achilles tendon. In a slow-motion replay, viewers could see the stress on his left calf, which he had previously strained during training.

Although a guard nearby attempted to assist Rodgers, he responded, "I can't get up,\" according to offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker .

This injury has dealt a severe blow to the Jets, who had built their entire 2023-2024 NFL season strategy around acquiring Rodgers. Given his age at 39 and the critical nature of this injury, there are now serious questions about whether he will continue to play in the NFL.

Is All Lost?

Prior to the last Monday Night Football game, Rodgers had expressed his desire to continue playing for several more seasons. He is under contract until the end of the 2024-2025 NFL season and is set to receive a total of $75 million, following a voluntary $35 million pay cut last August to help the team enhance their lineup. This season, he is guaranteed $37 million.

Saleh chose not to make comments regarding Rodgers' future, as he typically prefers not to share too much information publicly.

"As you can imagine, he’s feeling down,\" Saleh mentioned. "I’ll let him provide answers to those questions. I’m not going to speculate about his future expectations or thoughts. That’s a discussion best saved for another day. But he’s definitely disappointed, especially considering the effort he’s put in. \"

Rodgers will now have to undergo several months of intensive rehabilitation. However, the Jets hope to keep him involved as a mentor within their QB group, as his experience could greatly benefit the development of other quarterbacks in their system.

" We all want him to remain connected , and I believe he wants to be here,\" added Saleh.

The Jets, who launched into this NFL season with high hopes of a Super Bowl run, must now rely on the quarterback they previously benched during last season and this past offseason.

The organization termed this as a "reset\" season for Zach Wilson, who spent months honing his skills under Rodgers’ guidance. The Jets had intended for Wilson to refine his fundamentals without facing the immense pressure of being a starting quarterback in the NFL. National Football League Zach ignited controversy last year after delivering a notably poor performance against their divisional rivals, the New England Patriots , where he failed to take responsibility during the post-game press conference, leading to a loss of support among his teammates. Just two days later, he was demoted in favor of the Jets' backup quarterback.

Now, Wilson has openly expressed that he feels "much more prepared\" after working alongside Rodgers throughout this offseason.

"The biggest challenge now is translating that preparation into actual gameplay, and I need to accomplish that,\" commented quarterback Zach Wilson following last Monday's game.

When Wilson stepped in for Rodgers during the first offensive series of the game, he impressively completed 14 out of 21 passes for a total of 140 yards. Despite throwing a costly interception under heavy coverage, he also contributed to rallying the team from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter with a 3-yard touchdown pass to young star wide receiver Garrett Wilson . New York Jets Even while passing for less than 155 yards in three of his first six games last season, Wilson managed to secure victories in five of them.

"Everything about him has changed so much compared to last year,\" Saleh noted. "His progress has been quicker than anyone anticipated, especially given the circumstances, and he’s made significant strides compared to last season. \"

Comments made by cornerback Darius Slay of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Rodgers' injury has sparked extensive discussion throughout the league regarding the new turf at MetLife Stadium and player safety on artificial surfaces in the NFL. Cornerback Darius Slay criticized the quality of the field in interviews following this game.

" Everyone is aware of the issues at MetLife Stadium ,\" Slay pointed out. "They really ought to install real grass. This is unacceptable. It's upsetting when anyone gets hurt since we are playing such a dangerous sport. People think we’re invincible, but that’s far from the truth."

Coach Saleh doesn't attribute Rodgers' injury solely to the turf conditions, stating, "No. If it had been a noncontact injury, that would be one thing to address . However, this was clearly a traumatic injury. I know players have a preference for grass fields, and there's plenty invested in their safety.\"

During the 2023 NFL preseason, Rodgers had mentioned that he favors playing on natural grass, yet he also acknowledged that MetLife Stadium has " one of the finest artificial surfaces I've encountered. \"

Rodgers' achievements and accolades in his football career.

Four-time recipient of the NFL Most Valuable Player Award (2011, 2014, 2020, 2021).

Four-time First-Team All-Pro selection (2011, 2014, 2020, 2021).

• Super Bowl Champion (XLV)
• Super Bowl MVP Award Winner (XLV)
• Twice led the NFL in passing touchdowns (2016, 2020).
• Named Associated Press Athlete of the Year (2011).
• Second - Team NFL All - Pro Selection (2012)
• 10 - Time NFL Pro Bowl Selection (2009, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021)
• 4 - Time NFL Passer Rating Leader (2011, 2012, 2020, 2021)
• Set the record for the lowest interception percentage in a season at 0.3% (2018).
• NFL Completion Percentage Leader (2020)
• NFL 2010’s All - Decade Team Selection
• Bart Starr Award Winner (2014)
• Achieved 402 consecutive passes without throwing an interception.
• Bert Bell Award Winner (2011)

Rodgers’ NFL Records

• Single Season Passer Rating of 122.5 (2011)
• “Jets' Aaron Rodgers suffers a torn Achilles tendon, resulting in season-ending injury.”
• , pro-football-reference.com, September 14, 2023.

Sources:

Comprehensive and accurate strategies for popular casino games such as blackjack, craps, roulette, and many others available online. , Rich Cimini, espn.com, September 12, 2023.

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Written by: Michael Shackleford