Jets QB Aaron Rodgers thought his career's over after Achilles injury

Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers shared his thoughts on the Achilles injury that ruled him out for the entirety of the 2023 NFL season and admitted that he initially thought that it might bring a premature end to his football career. The four-time MVP was playing his first game in New York, after his trade from Green Bay during the offseason after 15 years with the Packers, and lasted just four snaps.

Speaking to ESPN, he said that he knew something was wrong the moment he hit the ground. But he tried to get up and hope that it was just a small niggle. Aaron Rodgers revealed:

"I knew when I was on the ground that something was wrong. And sometimes you get drilled and you know, something's off, and you just kind of hope you get up and it kind of like shakes itself out."

But Aaron Rodgers said that the moment he stood up, he knew something was wrong and went back down immediately. During that time, his football career was flashing before his eyes.

He thought about the nearly two decades he spent with the Packers, his trade to the Jets and the excitement it generated, and everything from Hard Knocks to running out with the American flag on 9/11 when the fateful game against the Buffalo Bills was held on the first Monday night of the 2023 season.

Aaron Rodgers commented:

"But when I stood up, I said, I knew it. And then I just went down. And you just everything flashing before your eyes - the 18 years in Green Bay, the trade, the spring, this excitement, the summer, the city, the Hard Knocks, running on the field with the flag for the first time, 9/11,"

Aaron Rodgers admits thinking about his age during Achilles injury

Aaron Rodgers admitted that he was keenly aware that coming back from an Achilles injury is tough, especially at his age. He is currently 40 years old and thinking about what was going into rehab, he sat in the training room after the injury and imagined that this is how his career ended. He csaid:

"Then just thinking that's going to be the last time, because I know I'm old and the rehab I knew was going to be tough. And so in the training room, I really thought, 'Damn, that's how I'm going to go out.'"

Luckily for Jets fans, he is back for at least another season and they will be hoping he remains healthy enough to break their longstanding playoff drought.