Aaron Rodgers Hurts Ankle In First Series For Jets, Carted Off Sideline, Ruled Out Of Game
Sep 11, 2023, 7:57 PM
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers #8 of the New York Jets sacked by defensive end Leonard Floyd #56 of the Buffalo Bills during the first quarter of the NFL game at MetLife Stadium on September 11, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers was injured on his fourth snap in his debut with the New York Jets, needing to be carted from the sideline with an ankle injury Monday night.
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Rodgers was ruled out for the rest of the game against Buffalo, the Jets announced midway through the second quarter. X-rays were negative, the team added.
Rodgers was sacked by the Bills’ Leonard Floyd and sat on the MetLife Stadium turf, where he appeared to reach down at his leg before trainers attended to him. He stood up after a few moments, but needed help getting to New York’s sideline.
The 39-year-old Rodgers was taken to the blue medical tent to be examined — and then sat on a cart. Halfway to the locker room, he hopped off the cart and limped inside.
Aaron Rodgers suffers an early injury and Zach Wilson takes over at QB for the @nyjets.#LocalsInTheNFL #NFL #TakeFlight #BUFvsNYJ #BYUFOOTBALL https://t.co/npyhFxPl5v
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) September 12, 2023
Before the game, Rodgers jogged onto the field with an American flag in hand and received his first official welcome from Jets fans.
He was introduced along with the Jets’ starters on offense by hip-hop artist and actor Method Man — accompanied by a laser light show — and got huge applause from a crowd that has anticipated this moment since the four-time MVP was acquired in April.
Aaron Rodgers takes the field holding the American flag 🙌
📺: #BUFvsNYJ on ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/6SstXq1rq7 pic.twitter.com/cXcCVlH0mX— NFL (@NFL) September 12, 2023
The excitement was soon replaced by a nervous murmur in the stands when Rodgers was hurt 3:45 into the game. He handed off once and threw two incomplete passes before the sack that sent him to the sideline in pain.
New York acquired Rodgers, the No. 15 overall pick and a fifth-rounder in this year’s draft from Green Bay on April 26. In exchange, the Packers got the 13th overall selection, a second-rounder, a sixth-rounder and a conditional 2024 second-round pick that could become a first-rounder if Rodgers plays 65% of New York’s plays this season.
Rodgers has been downgraded to out. His x-rays were negative. https://t.co/TjZv03DrQF
— New York Jets (@nyjets) September 12, 2023
Rodgers, who spent his first 18 seasons with Green Bay, raised expectations for the Jets and their fan base when he said he expects to win in New York and pointed out during his introductory news conference that the team’s only Super Bowl trophy from the 1968 season looks “lonely.”
He gives the Jets their most accomplished quarterback since Brett Favre, who was acquired from Green Bay in 2008 — clearing the way for Rodgers to become the Packers’ signal caller.
There is a fear that #Jets QB Aaron Rodgers is dealing with an Achilles injury, per sources. It’s currently unknown if it’s ruptured. He’s expected to have an MRI on Monday, per sources. pic.twitter.com/Hb4jO7iJNu
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) September 12, 2023
Rodgers, who has repeatedly said he won’t be one-and-done with the Jets, agreed in July to a restructured contract that gives him $75 million in fully guaranteed money over this season and next. It amounts to a nearly $35 million pay cut from the deal he had with Green Bay in which he was set to make $110 million guaranteed.
