Sorry, Jets fans, the hits just keep on coming.
The latest was on Monday night, when quarterback Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles tendon just four plays into his debut with the team. The Jets won, but Rodgers, who signed with the team this summer, will likely be out for the season.
So this one's for you, Jets faithful.
Who are they? The fans.
- Zack Rosenblatt covers the Jets for The Athletic and was at the game. He told All Things Considered: "In the immediate aftermath, there was definitely a silence, like a weird, like, everybody kind of holding their breath, trying to figure out what was happening. I think everybody's pretty depressed today."
So this one's for you, Jets faithful.
- "You know, we just spent five months hyping up this team as a Super Bowl contender [and] Aaron Rodgers as quarterback," Rosenblatt said.
- The news is another blow to fans, some of whom have started to believe the team is cursed. There might be some evidence to support that...
- In 1999, Vinny Testaverde tore his Achilles tendon and was out.
- In 2005, a shoulder injury brought starting quarterback Chad Pennington down.
- Then — in that same game in 2005 — backup quarterback Jay Fiedler also went down with a season-ending shoulder injury.
- In 2008, the Jets came close to joining the playoffs, but Favre's torn bicep hindered his performance. After leaving the Jets, his career improved.
What are fans saying? They are going through the various stages of grief.
There was the hype, followed by the dismay:
@espnGreeny’s reaction to the Aaron Rodgers injury 😭(via stacygsg/X,nikkigreeny/X)#nfl#sad#jets#rodgers#aaronrodgers♬ original sound-MusicRadio🎧
There were those who refused to believe it:
@barstoolsportsJets Fans At Barstool HQ Live Reaction To Aaron Rodgers Injury 😭@Barstool Gambling♬ original sound-Barstool Sports
Then there was the quiet acceptance:
I swear jets are cursed they get Aaron Rodgers and he plays a couple plays and gets hurt and out for the season.
— Matt Ogden (@Mattogden1993) September 12, 2023
- Rosenblatt says some of the problem is on the people at the top of the organization: "A lot of it is, you know, mismanagement, bad coaching or bad roster building. But this was the first time everybody felt pretty good about the roster that was built on the coaching staff in place. And then this happened."
Learn more:
- It took a while, but Aaron Rodgers is poised to become a New York Jet
- Aaron Rodgers' torn Achilles means the Jets QB is likely to miss rest of the season
- Former NFL players speak out against the league's handling of disability benefits
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