Rodgers crushed but vows: `I shall rise yet again'
Aaron Rodgers' season is over. It appears he might not be ready to call it a career.
“The night is darkest before the dawn,” the New York Jets quarterback wrote on Instagram on Wednesday night. “And I shall rise yet again.”
Rodgers is out for the season with a torn left Achilles tendon injury, suffered on the fourth snap of his debut with his new team Monday night. The 39-year-old quarterback had not commented publicly since the injury during the Jets' season-opening 2216 overtime win over Buffalo.
“Thank you to every person that has reached out, called, texted, DM'd, connected through a friend, etc.,” Rodgers wrote. “It has meant a ton to me, and I'll try and get back to all of you soon.
“I'm completely heartbroken and moving through all of the emotions, but deeply touched and humbled by the support and love. Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers as I begin the healing process today.”
Rodgers closed his post with: “Proud of my guys, 1-0.”
There had been some doubt as to whether Rodgers would consider retiring, although Jets coach Robert Saleh offered some optimism earlier Wednesday.
“I haven't gone down that road with him,” Saleh said. “I mean, I'd be shocked if this is the way he's going to go out. But at the same time, for him, he's working through a whole lot of head space, things that he needs to deal with.
“That will be the last thing I talk to him about.”
Despite Rodgers' Instagram post, it will surely be a conversation to be had with the quarterback, who Saleh said was going for some medical consultations to determine his next step, which will include surgery. Rodgers is also facing a long, arduous recovery and rehabilitation from the injury.
“I would think that somebody of his caliber, I would bet that he would have no problem coming back from it,” said Matt LaFleur, Rodgers' former coach in Green Bay. “I really believe it. I know the type of worker he is, and so it's just going to be a choice of whether or not he wants to continue to play or not.”
Rodgers turns 40 in December and had considered retirement before coming out of a self-reflective darkness retreat in February and saying he intended to continue to play — and wanted it to be with the Jets.
His trade to New York from Green Bay in April raised expectations for a franchise that hasn't made the playoffs in 12 years, to the point there were high hopes for a run at a Super Bowl. Now, Rodgers won't be able to contribute on the field the rest of this season, but the Jets hope he'll still help the team end its postseason drought by staying connected to his teammates and coaches.
“It's important for him, his mental health and healing,” Saleh said. “But his presence, his words, his verbiage, like I've said, he's as much a football coach as he is a player. And just having his presence, his thoughts, his words and his leadership, I think anybody would want that.” UNION CALLS FOR END TO ARTIFICIAL TURF >> The NFL Players Association wants the league to switch all its fields to natural grass, calling it “the easiest decision the NFL can make.”
Executive director Lloyd Howell issued a statement saying NFL players “overwhelmingly prefer it and the data is clear that grass is simply safer than artificial turf.” Howell said the issue “has been near the top of the players' list during my team visits and one I have raised with the NFL.”
The players' union called for the change less than 48 hours after a season-ending injury to four-time NFL MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers tore his left Achilles tendon in his debut with the New York Jets on Monday night.
Howell said in his statement they know there is an investment to making such a change. But he said there's a bigger cost to the NFL if the league keeps losing its best players to “unnecessary injuries.” He noted the NFL flips surfaces to grass for World Cup or soccer exhibitions. PANTHERS LOSE ANOTHER STARTING GUARD >> The Carolina Panthers placed Brady Christensen on injured reserve, leaving them without both starting guards entering Monday night's home opener against the New Orleans Saints. Christensen has a biceps injury and will miss at least four games, the team said. The Panthers were already without guard Austin Corbett, who has not played since tearing an ACL in last year's regular-season finale.