Aaron Rodgers understandably is “heartbroken” over his massively anticipated season with the Jets ending in agony after only four plays, but the superstar quarterback sounded like he expects to continue his NFL career.
Rodgers struck an optimistic tone in his first public comments since suffering a torn left Achilles tendon in the first quarter of his Jets debut in Monday’s win over the Bills.
“Thank you to every person that has reached out, called, texted, DM’d, connected through a friend, etc. It has meant a ton to me, and I’ll try and get back to all of you soon,” Rodgers wrote on his Instagram page. “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.
“The night is darkest before the dawn. And I shall rise yet again.”
Rodgers added that he’s “proud of my guys” following Monday’s stirring 22-16 overtime victory, before also noting the team’s record of “1-0” alongside an airplane emoji.
The early-evening post by Rodgers on social media came several hours after Jets head coach Robert Saleh had indicated that he doesn’t expect the four-time MVP to retire following his season-ending surgery.
“I haven’t gone down that road with him, but I’d be shocked if this is the way he’s gonna go out,” Saleh said before practice Wednesday in Florham Park. “But at the same time for him, he’s working through a whole lot of things that he needs to deal with. That will be the last thing I talk to him about.”
Saleh added that there is no specific plan in place for the 39-year-old Rodgers’ surgery, but he believes the 10-time Pro Bowler will remain “connected” to the Jets and replacement quarterback Zach Wilson as they proceed through this season without him.
“We’re limited on headsets, but if he wants a headset, he can have one,” Saleh said. “I think it’s very important. It’s important for him. I think for mental health and healing, I think it’s very important.
“But his presence, his words … I guess that he’s as much of a football coach as he is a player. Just having his presence, his thoughts, his words and his leadership, anybody would want that.”
Saleh also reiterated what he had said Tuesday about sticking with Wilson, the team’s 2021 first-round pick, rather than go outside the organization, with Tim Boyle elevated from the practice squad as his backup at least for Sunday’s game against the Cowboys.
“I’m still working through it all, but like I said, we’re not pressed right now because there’s two guys right now that are on the roster for game day,” Saleh said. “We’ve got a lot of faith in Zach. I think that people forget that he was 5-1 before the bye week [last season] and before half the offense was decimated with injuries from a year ago.”
Jets center Connor McGovern said he first learned of the severity of Rodgers’ injury when he “eavesdropped” Monday night on a conversation Saleh was having with the medical staff.
“It was a big roller coaster this week, but I think everyone responded really well,” McGovern said. “When Aaron went down, everybody fired right back up and Zach came in and played a heck of a game. … We handled our business with some pretty crazy adversity, and now we’re on to Dallas.
“I think everyone is extremely confident in [Wilson]. He has that swagger he had when he first came here. I think he lost it a little bit, but it’s back and better than ever.”
Wilson replaced Rodgers after the fourth offensive play Monday night, and the Jets pulled out the victory behind four forced turnovers by the defense and a 65-yard punt return for a touchdown in OT by rookie Xavier Gipson.
The 24-year-old Wilson finished the game 14-for-21 for 140 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
Asked about his message to the locker room with Rodgers sidelined, Saleh added, “I don’t know if there’s anything to say. It sounds cliche, but nobody cares. Nobody cares that you’ve lost a player, at the end of the day. Sunday’s coming and we’ve gotta put our best foot forward and do everything we can to put ourselves in position to be successful. That’s the harsh part of the business, and I think our guys understand that.”