Aaron Rodgers has frankly addressed his “heartbreak” over the injury that ended his rookie season with the New York Jets.
The quarterback, who joined the Jets after leaving the Green Bay Packers, suffered a season-ending injury in his first game. Rodgers’ departure from the Packers ended an 18-year tenure with the team with which he had become synonymous.
His decision to begin a new chapter at MetLife Stadium marked the first trade of his professional career. As he approached his 40th birthday, Rodgers relocated to the Big Apple in search of a successful season with the Jets and a second Super Bowl ring.
However, his hopes were dashed after only four snaps in his first game of the season. Wearing the Jets jersey for the first time in the NFL, the four-time MVP was left writhing in agony on the field shortly into the game against the Bills.
Rodgers had a dreadful debut, being sacked by opposing defensive end Leonard Floyd in the first few minutes of the game. Due to an ankle injury, he was taken off the field to obtain extra care, and understudy Zach Wilson took over. L
After the game, it was discovered that Rodgers had ruptured his Achilles tendon, abruptly terminating his season. The quarterback expressed his emotions on how the incident evolved, opening up about the upsetting Week 1 event.
During an appearance on the “I Can Fly” podcast, he admitted to feeling elated prior to the match, adding, “[It was] one of the highest highs in my sporting career.”
“I had a fantastic off-season experience in a new location, a new town, with new teammates, a new organization, and an owner for the first time, and I really fell back in love with the game that I fell in love with when I was five years old. It was incredibly stunning, unique, deep, rich, delicious, and simply fantastic.”
Rodgers has now admitted that the injury he experienced and the way in which his debut unfolded have been difficult to shake in the intervening months. Despite repeatedly stating that he would not retire and would return, he has recently said that he first worried for his career.
