{"id":290456,"date":"2023-09-12T06:50:22","date_gmt":"2023-09-12T06:50:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports-life-news.com\/?p=290456"},"modified":"2023-09-12T06:50:22","modified_gmt":"2023-09-12T06:50:22","slug":"aaron-rodgers-arrival-likely-too-good-to-be-true-for-jets-after-season-opening-injury","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports-life-news.com\/nfl\/aaron-rodgers-arrival-likely-too-good-to-be-true-for-jets-after-season-opening-injury\/","title":{"rendered":"Aaron Rodgers' arrival likely too good to be true for Jets after season-opening injury"},"content":{"rendered":"

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Less than two hours before kickoff of the most highly anticipated Jets season in decades, a rainbow appeared above MetLife Stadium, perhaps a promise that their pot of gold, long well out of their grasp, was finally in reach.<\/p>\n

Aaron Rodgers believes in speaking things into existence, in the power of manifestation. His positivity, his embrace of this second act in New York and his sterling training camp had made the Jets legitimate playoff threats and had spurred Jets fans to dream that he would finally deliver the riches that have eluded this team since Joe Namath wore the uniform.\u00a0<\/p>\n

They roared for him when he ran onto the field Monday night. There was no screaming into existence necessary. Rodgers was really theirs. They roared when he walked out for the coin flip. There, in hindsight, was an awful bit of symmetry. Also representing the Jets for the flip was a gray-haired Vinny Testaverde, the former Jets quarterback. In 1999, the Jets had Super Bowl aspirations, too, with Testaverde as their leader. And nearly 24 years ago to the day, in that season opener, Testaverde ruptured his Achilles’ tendon, ending his season, crushing those dreams.<\/p>\n

Jets fans are exhausted by brutal history like that, and they are desperate for the record to balance out. So they roared again when Rodgers finally took the field, almost too good to be true.<\/p>\n

It is likely it was too good to be true. Coach Robert Saleh said the team expects to confirm that Rodgers tore his Achilles tendon, which would end his season. Saleh’s tone was subdued, signaling how devastating the injury is for the team. “It’s not good,” he said.<\/p>\n

But for a few hours late Monday night, with an overtime walk-off punt return to beat the Buffalo Bills, 22-16, in the season opener, Jets fans screamed into existence that their team’s season would still be relevant, that it could still hold promise behind a smothering defense and an electric running game, no matter how dire Rodgers’ situation is.<\/p>\n

The jubilation might be fleeting, but it at least briefly replaced the despair.<\/p>\n

“That part sucks,” Saleh said. “I’m going to enjoy this win. Winning is hard in the NFL, no matter who the quarterback is. Personally, I don’t hurt for me, I don’t hurt for our locker room. I hurt for Aaron and how much he is invested in this. My heart’s with Aaron right now.”<\/p>\n

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