FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers, in his first public feedback since his season-ending Achilles harm, mentioned he is down, however apparently not out.
“I am fully heartbroken and transferring by the entire feelings, however deeply touched and humbled by the assist and love,” Rodgers wrote Wednesday in a post on his Instagram web page. “Please maintain me in your ideas and prayers as I start the therapeutic course of at present.
“The night time is darkest earlier than the daybreak. And I shall rise but once more.”
Rodgers’ feedback got here shortly after Jets coach Robert Saleh and proprietor Woody Johnson each indicated they anticipate the four-time MVP to return in 2024.
“I would be shocked if that is the way in which he will exit,” Saleh advised reporters.
The 39-year-old quarterback, the oldest participant within the NFL, faces a number of months of grueling rehab after tearing his left Achilles tendon on his fourth snap of the season in Monday night time’s win over the Buffalo Payments.
Saleh mentioned he hasn’t mentioned the long run with him, including that Rodgers is “working by an entire lot of headspace issues that he must cope with, and that would be the very last thing I discuss to him about.”
Earlier than the harm, Rodgers had talked about on quite a few events that his purpose was to play a number of years with the Jets. He is signed by 2025, resulting from obtain $38 million in ensures in 2024.
About three hours earlier than Rodgers’ put up, Johnson chimed in on social media, saying, “The story isn’t over. Come again robust @AaronRodgers12.” In Inexperienced Bay, Packers coach Matt LaFleur and quarterback Jordan Love mentioned they texted Rodgers shortly after his harm.
“I might guess that he would haven’t any drawback getting back from it,” LaFleur mentioned. “I actually consider it. I do know the kind of employee he’s, and so it is simply going to be a alternative of whether or not or not he needs to proceed to play or not.”
Love mentioned that he was excited to see Rodgers play and that “it sucks for that to occur to him within the first collection. I really feel for him, I do know he will bounce again, and he’ll do his factor in restoration, and he’ll come again stronger.”
In the meantime, the Jets are making ready for the Dallas Cowboys (1-0) with Zach Wilson as their starter and Tim Boyle because the backup. Saleh mentioned the staff does not really feel a way of urgency so as to add one other quarterback though Wilson and Boyle are the one two within the constructing. Boyle will probably be introduced up from the apply squad for Sunday’s sport on the street.
Sooner or later, the Jets hope Rodgers will return to the ability to assist behind the scenes. Rodgers and Wilson have developed an in depth relationship over the previous few months, and the coaches say it has helped Wilson — the No. 2 decide in 2021 — enhance his sport.
“I believe it is crucial,” Saleh mentioned of getting Rodgers across the staff. “It is vital for him. For him, I believe it is the psychological well being and therapeutic. I believe that is crucial. However his presence, his phrases. … I mentioned he is as a lot a soccer coach as he’s a participant. Simply having his presence, his ideas, his phrases and his management, anyone would need that.”
For now, Wilson will not have Rodgers round to tutor him. The Jets are attempting to rally across the quarterback who was benched twice final season and demoted to 3rd string late within the yr.
A number of gamers, when requested about their confidence in Wilson, mentioned the third-year quarterback has proven progress, and so they cited Rodgers as an enormous purpose. They famous a distinction in Wilson’s confidence.
“He has that swagger,” heart Connor McGovern mentioned. “When he got here in, he had a pleasant swagger about him. I believe he misplaced it a little bit bit and it is again. It is again and it is higher than ever.”
Wilson, 8-14 as a starter, changed Rodgers on the primary collection of the sport. He struggled within the first half, throwing a expensive interception, however improved within the second half and threw a 3-yard landing move to Garrett Wilson within the 22-16 extra time win. He completed 14-for-21 for 140 yards.
“The previous is the previous and, from what I am seeing, Zach is our man,” operating again Dalvin Cook mentioned. “We’ve to rock out with him.”
The Jets are exploring quarterback choices for depth functions, however Saleh mentioned they don’t seem to be in a rush as a result of they need the best scheme and locker room match.
In the meantime, Rodgers’ former coach with the Packers, Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy, mentioned he reached out to his previous quarterback.
“I’ve an incredible quantity of affection for him,” McCarthy mentioned. “That is robust. I do know he was very enthusiastic about this chapter of his life, and I used to be trying ahead to seeing him this weekend. … You get to see how treasured these alternatives are. Each sport is such a particular alternative to compete on this league. So, yeah, I believe we’re all feeling for him personally proper now.”
ESPN’s Rob Demovsky and Todd Archer contributed to this report.