NFL

Jets' Rodgers will miss rest of season with torn Achilles

By Sports Desk September 12, 2023

The New York Jets' worst fears have been confirmed.

Aaron Rodgers will miss the rest of the 2023 NFL season with a torn left Achilles tendon.

An MRI on Tuesday confirmed the severity of the injury one day after the four-time league MVP left the Jets' 22-16 overtime win over the Buffalo Bills after just four snaps.

At 39 years old, it's possible Rodgers' career ended on that fateful play.

The injury occurred when Rodgers was sacked by Buffalo's Leonard Floyd on New York's official third play from scrimmage. The star quarterback briefly remained on the turf holding his lower left leg before being helped to the sideline, then was later taken to the locker room on a cart before having his leg placed in a walking boot.

The Jets initially announced Rodgers was questionable to return before ruling him out midway through the second quarter.

After the game, Jets coach Robert Saleh told reporters that the team feared it was a torn Achilles tendon.

Rodgers final stat line for the 2023 season is 0-for-1 passing while being sacked once.

Rodgers arrived in New York to much fanfare after the 10-time Pro Bowler requested a trade to the Jets. The Green Bay Packers eventually sent him to New York on April 26.

With Rodgers on the roster, the Jets were a trendy preseason pick to end a longstanding playoff drought and contend for an AFC title. New York holds the NFL's longest active streak without a postseason appearance at 12 years, having last reached the playoffs in 2010.

The Jets will now press on with Zach Wilson.

Wilson's quarterback rating of 72.8 last season was the lowest among the 36 quarterbacks with a minimum of 175 pass attempts in 2022.

In Monday's opener, he threw a touchdown pass to Garrett Wilson with under five minutes remaining in regulation to tie the game at 13-13. The Jets eventually won on a 65-yard punt return touchdown from rookie Xavier Gipson with 9:02 left in overtime.

Zach Wilson finished with 140 yards on 14-of-21 passing with one touchdown and one interception. 

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