Career Ending Injury: Jets Top Star and Fan Most Favourite Feared His Career Is Over After Tearing His Achilles – ‘This is it, you don’t come back from this injury’

Aaron Rodgers admitted that he believed his career was gone after tearing his Achilles in his first game with the New York Jets in September.

After 18 seasons with the Green Bay Packers, Rodgers says the trade to the Jets rekindled his love for the game. Over a half-year after the injury, the 40-year-old explained how his Jets debut went from one of the best to the worst of his career.

The quarterback spoke on the ‘I Can Fly’ podcast about his emotions after his first season in New York ended on his first possession at MetLife Stadium.
I was genuinely thinking, ‘This is it. “You don’t come back from this injury,” he explained.

Rodgers ran onto the field with the American flag during introductions before kickoff. Minutes later, his debut and the dreams of Jets fans were dashed when a tackle by Buffalo’s Leonard Floyd resulted in his introduction becoming his outro last season.
‘I had this great offseason experience in a new city, a new town, with new teammates, a new organization, and an owner for the first time, and truly falling back in love with the game that I first fell in love with when I was five years old,’ he stated. ‘It was incredibly lovely, special, deep, rich, delicious, and simply fantastic.

‘Then came one of the most agonizing nights of my life, when I performed four plays. ‘Talk about ego dying.
Rodgers recovered spectacularly and was expected to make an extraordinary return before the season ended. However, his comeback did not occur, and the Jets (7-10) slipped out of contention.

Nearly seven months later, the four-time MVP and former Super Bowl champion is expected to take part in OTA practices next month. With his return seeming likely, Rodgers spoke out about the significance of having strong people around him after the injury.

I said, ‘I need help. This is going to be incredibly difficult. I simply need you guys to be there for me on those terrible days when I don’t believe it’s possible,” Rodgers added. ‘It’s difficult to ask for aid.

Despite the fact that everything felt dark at times, Rodgers expressed gratitude for the many positives that transpired while he was away from the field.
‘As s**ty as it was — and it was the most terrible thing that’s ever happened to me — all the miracles that happened along the road would never have happened,’ he added, adding that’so much changed’ in his life over the last six months.

Rodgers turns 41 in December, but he says he expects to play in the NFL for another two to four years. He also thanked the ‘amazing angels’ who assisted with his rehabilitation, including his physical therapist and chef, for helping him become a ‘better version’ of himself.

‘I’m delighted to play again,’ he added. ‘I love to play. I fell back in love with the game, but it was taken away after four plays. I miss being out there, and I love competing.

Football is my happiest spot. That’s where I feel most in command of my athletic abilities. I truly missed that last year. My heart was broken. I’m looking forward to taking the field once more and going to combat with my teammates, whether it’s life or death.