It’s a moment now ingrained in Jets lore.
Slow-motion replay footage from Monday’s season opener against the Bills captures the moment Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers appeared to tear his Achilles, with a pop being shown in his calf.
An MRI exam confirmed Tuesday that the 39-year-old quarterback has a torn left Achilles tendon that will require season-ending surgery, a source told The Post’s Brian Costello.
Rodgers was just minutes into his Jets regular-season debut when disaster struck.
He was injured on his fourth play after taking a sack from Bills defensive end Leonard Floyd.
Rodgers was then helped off the field by trainers and taken into a medical tent before being carted off for X-rays.
Jets head coach Robert Saleh said after his team’s 22-16 overtime win that they were preparing for the worst with Rodgers.
“I hurt for Aaron and how much he’s invested in all of this. I’m still going to say a prayer. I’m still going to hold out hope. My heart’s with Aaron right now and nowhere else,” Saleh said.
Rodgers was traded to the Jets in April following 18 seasons with the Packers.
What’s next for Jets after Aaron Rodgers’ season-ending injury
The Jets got the news they were expecting but dreading.
An MRI exam confirmed quarterback Aaron Rodgers has a torn left Achilles tendon that will require season-ending surgery, a source confirmed.
Now, the Jets are back to where they were a year ago, with Zach Wilson back as the starting quarterback of the New York Jets.
Here’s what’s next for the star-crossed franchise.
Will Wilson get it done?
- Wilson is 8-14 as a starter and has thrown 16 touchdown passes along with 19 interceptions. Quite a few of those interceptions have helped to turn potential wins into losses, and many believed if Wilson had played to the level of an average NFL quarterback last season, the Jets would have made the playoffs.
Talent around him
Who else is out there?
- Former starters Carson Wentz, Matt Ryan and ex-Jet Joe Flacco are unsigned free agents. Journeyman Colt McCoy spent the preseason with the Cardinals and is available. GM Joe Douglas could look to make a trade.
His arrival to New York ignited much fanfare and hype, with a championship-starved franchise hopeful the four-time league MVP could potentially lead the Jets back to the promised land.
“I think already there’s incredible excitement, and it’s been a long time from 1969. It’s also been a long time since the Jets made the playoffs, so it would be a crazy experience,” Rodgers previously told The Post’s Steve Serby.
With a Week 2 matchup against the Cowboys looming, all eyes are now on Rodgers’ mentee, Zach Wilson, who was the Jets’ second-overall pick in 2021.
The third-year quarterback finished Monday’s win by throwing for 140 yards with one touchdown and an interception.
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