After tearing his Achilles Monday night, we will not see Aaron Rodgers suit up for the New York Jets again during the 2023 season. Heck, we might never see him play NFL football again, given the serious nature of his injury at almost 40 years old.
Beyond the Jets’ overall season outlook and the betting market reaction, the people who have to be most devastated are Jets fans. They thought they had a legitimate Super Bowl contender on their hands with Rodgers in the fold, and he didn’t even finish a single possession. It has to be one of the more shocking (and deflating) debuts by a sports superstar in recent memory.
As the Jets look ahead to other options under center, let’s break down a few sad stats that put Rodgers’ short-lived New York debut in an even more depressing context.
More Rodgers’ shocking injury:
- The Jets’ Aaron-Rodgers-less, walk-off overtime win was the most chaotic way to start the NFL season
- 5 fantasy QBs to target with Aaron Rodgers out for the year
- Mike Greenberg on Aaron Rodgers injury: “There’s no way in the world I have processed this”
1
So few snaps played
Aaron Rodgers' 3 snaps played are the fewest by a Week 1 starting quarterback in a season since at least 2007.
That distinction previously belonged to '08 Tom Brady and '21 Ryan Fitzpatrick (15 snaps). pic.twitter.com/8DyxCvNTOW
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) September 12, 2023
All that hype and excitement, and Rodgers didn’t even finish his first Jets possession. Oof.
2
75 seconds
Aaron Rodgers saw a total of 4 snaps in 2023. pic.twitter.com/FlFTTTr7mw
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 12, 2023
Folks, 75 seconds is barely the length of one Rodgers’ two-minute drill at the end of a half or a game. My goodness.
3
Rodgers' extremely lucrative payday
Technically, since Rodgers only played 75 seconds for the Jets in 2023, he earned $1 million per second. That $75 million guaranteed on his contract has never looked so good.
4
No passes completed
Not only did Rodgers NOT finish his first possession, but Jets fans never had the joy of watching him complete a single pass. Not even a routine checkdown. Not one. And given that he’ll be 40 years old in December, it’s extremely possible Rodgers will finish with zero completed passes for the Jets. Retirement is not out of the question.
5
A recent sterling record on Monday Night Football ... means nothing
Since Rodgers received the start on Monday, the win is officially attributed to him. He has now “won” his last 10 starts on Monday Night Football. And he will probably not win another — at least with the Jets.
