'It's not good': Jets fear Aaron Rodgers suffered season-ending torn Achilles
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The New York Jets are still awaiting official word on Aaron Rodgers' status, but the team is steeling itself for bad news about its star quarterback.
The Jets are concerned that Rodgers suffered an Achilles injury as the team awaits an MRI on Tuesday, coach Robert Saleh said, with a tear almost assuredly ending his season.
“MRI is probably gonna confirm what we think is already gonna happen, so prayers tonight, but it’s not good,” Saleh said after his team's 22-16 overtime win against the Buffalo Bills.
Just four snaps into his debut with the Jets, Rodgers was ruled out of the game with what was called a left ankle injury, prematurely ending his much-anticipated debut with the Jets and deflating the atmosphere at MetLife Stadium.
The Jets said X-rays on Rodgers' ankle were negative, but ESPN cameras caught him heading into and out of the X-ray room with a walking boot around his left leg.
The injury happened just four plays into Rodgers' first series. He took three dropbacks on the drive and faced pressure on each one, culminating in a sack on a first down play.
During the play, Bills edge rusher Leonard Floyd quickly slipped past left tackle Duane Brown and had a clean rush to Rodgers, who tried to scramble away. Rodgers spun around as Floyd corralled him and brought him to the turf, leading to his left foot twisting awkwardly as he fell.
Immediately afterward, Rodgers stood and looked toward the sideline before he shook his head and then voluntarily went down to sit on the turf, waiting for Jets trainers to examine him. Moments later, they helped him to his feet and he limped off the field with assistance. Rodgers was taken immediately into the blue medical tent on the sideline.
Minutes later, he emerged from the tent and sat on the bed of a cart. Staff began to wheel him away to the locker room but when the cart got to the mouth of the tunnel, Rodgers stood up and limped toward the locker room.
Officially, Rodgers's debut ended with him going 0-for-1, as his second dropback was nullified by a defensive holding by the Bills.
Backup quarterback Zach Wilson, the No. 2 overall selection in the 2021 NFL draft and New York's starter last season, replaced Rodgers.
Saleh confirmed that the team would continue on with Wilson, who completed 14 of 21 passes for 140 yards with one touchdown and one interception, as the starter if Rodgers' season is over.
New York acquired Rodgers in an April trade with the Packers, ending his 18-year run in Green Bay that saw him become the longest-tenured player in franchise history. Rodgers, 39, is a four-time AP Most Valuable Player of the Year and one of the premier and exacting passers in the NFL. Rodgers spent the offseason assimilating to the Jet locker room and participated in the team's entire offseason workout program.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Aaron Rodgers injury: Torn Achilles feared for Jets QB as MRI awaits
