New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers said on Thursday that surgery to repair a torn Achilles tendon in his left leg “went great”. The 39-year-old Rodgers suffered the season-ending Achilles injury on the fourth play of his New York Jets career on “Monday Night Football” against the Buffalo Bills. He was sacked by Bills pass-rusher Leonard Floyd and fell awkwardly on his left ankle. He was carted off the field and later diagnosed with a complete tear of the tendon.
Rodgers, who was traded to the Jets from the Green Bay Packers in the offseason, posted a photo of himself in a hospital bed on his Instagram story, thanking his fans and doctors for their support. “Surgery went great yesterday. Thank you for all the love and prayers and support. And thanks to the [GOAT] Dr ElAttrache and his staff for starting me on the road to recovery,” he wrote.
Dr. Neal ElAttrache is a renowned orthopedic surgeon who has operated on many elite athletes, including Tom Brady, Kobe Bryant, and Stephen Curry. He is also the team physician for the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Los Angeles Rams.
Jets coach Robert Saleh confident in Zach Wilson as starter
The injury to Rodgers is a devastating blow for the Jets, who had high hopes of contending for a Super Bowl title with the four-time NFL MVP under center. The Jets acquired Rodgers in exchange for a first-round pick, a second-round pick, a sixth-round pick, and a conditional 2024 second-round pick that becomes a first-rounder if Rodgers plays 65% of the snaps in 2023.
The Jets are now left with former No. 2 overall pick Zach Wilson as their starting quarterback. Wilson, who was drafted by the Jets in 2021, had an inconsistent rookie season, throwing for 2,811 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions in 13 games. He also missed four games due to a knee injury.
Jets head coach Robert Saleh expressed confidence in Wilson’s ability to lead the team in Rodgers’ absence. “Zach is our guy. He’s shown a lot of growth and potential. He’s ready to take this opportunity and run with it,” Saleh said.
Saleh also praised Rodgers for his leadership and mentorship of Wilson and the rest of the team. “Aaron is an incredible person and player. He’s been nothing but supportive and helpful to Zach and everyone else. We’re all rooting for him to have a speedy recovery and come back stronger than ever,” Saleh said.
Jets face tough schedule without Rodgers
The Jets won their season opener against the Bills 22-16 in overtime, thanks to a clutch performance by Wilson, who threw for 248 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winning score to Corey Davis. The Jets are currently tied with the Miami Dolphins for the first place in the AFC East division.
However, the Jets face a tough schedule ahead without Rodgers. According to SportsLine’s projections, with Rodgers missing the remainder of the season, New York’s chances of success take a major hit.
| Rodgers | Wilson |
|---|---|
| Wins | 9.6 |
| Playoff % | 60% |
| Super Bowl % | 2% |
The Jets have the eighth-hardest schedule of all NFL teams, based on their opponents’ records from last season. They have to play against several playoff contenders, including the Kansas City Chiefs, the San Francisco 49ers, the Philadelphia Eagles, and the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Jets will also have to face their division rivals twice each: the Buffalo Bills, who reached the AFC Championship Game last year; the Miami Dolphins, who have a promising young quarterback in Tua Tagovailoa; and the New England Patriots, who have one of the best defenses in the league.
The Jets will need Wilson to step up his game and avoid turnovers, while also getting help from their defense, running game, and special teams. The Jets will also need some luck and hope that some of their opponents suffer injuries or underperform.
The Jets’ next game is against the Denver Broncos on Sunday at Empower Field at Mile High.