How did New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ injury affect his former team, the Green Bay Packers?

First came his shock move from the Green Bay Packers to the New York Jets. Then came his trademark smile and enthusiasm and with that fans and neutrals alike were left feeling like not only had the four-time NFL MVP rediscovered his love for the game, but they could expect big things in the ‘Big Apple’ this coming campaign. Sadly, that will no longer be the case.

Aaron Rodgers’ injury is a blow to the Jets...and the Packers

By now you’ve probably seen the widespread reports that the New York Jets have lost their crown jewel, quarterback Aaron Rodgers, for the remainder of the 2023-24 season after their very first game, a 22-16 win against the Buffalo Bills on Monday night. What you may not have understood, however, is the fact that Rodgers’ former team, the Green Bay Packers, will also be hit hard by the signal caller’s unfortunate situation. Indeed, due to trade stipulations in the deal that was completed in April, the Jets will now be sending the Packers a 2024 second-round pick, as opposed to a first-round pick, due to the fact that Rodgers will be unable to play in 65% of the Jets’ offensive snaps this season. Needless to say, there’s a big difference between those two picks.

Where Rodgers himself is concerned, the 39-year-old tore his Achilles tendon on just the fourth play with his new team, when he was sacked by Bills defensive end Leonard Floyd. Ironically, Rodgers actually rose to his feet before sitting down immediately having understood that something was very wrong. Though he was initially ruled as questionable with what was believed to be a run-of-the-mill ankle injury, the 2010 Super Bowl winner did not return and is now in fact understood to be done for the campaign.

So, what happens next with the New York Jets?

While you might be thinking this is par for the course for a player of Rodgers’ age, the reality is that we’re talking about a 10-time Pro Bowler and a quarterback who is widely considered to be as good as seven-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady. That’s before we consider the fact that this is only the third time since 2008 that Rodgers will have played in fewer than 15 games in a regular season. In 2013, he was absent for seven games after fracturing his clavicle, and in 2017, Rodgers missed nine games after fracturing his right collarbone. As for what the Jets will do now, it’s expected that last season’s beleaguered QB, Zach Wilson, will become the starter once again. Where the Packers are concerned, they just won their Week 1 contest against the Chicago Bears, a game in which Rodgers’ backup, Jordan Love, got his first career win following a solid performance in which he threw for 245 yards and three touchdowns.