- Rodgers suffered a torn Achilles tendon just four games into his debut with the NY Jets
- After the injury, Zach Wilson was confirmed as the team’s starting QB
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
ESPN’s Pat McAfee has stated that his friend and injured New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers is “as devastated as all of us” after an injury ended his NFL season.
In the past 24 hours, Rodgers has become the owner of perhaps the most popular torn Achilles tendon in the world, following the unfortunate injury he suffered just four games into his Jets debut against the Buffalo Bills.
“I haven’t talked to him since the injury, but I have talked to people in his very close circle,” McAfee said Tuesday in an appearance on First Take with Stephen A. Smith and Shannon Sharpe. ‘As he is, he is just as devastated as the rest of us, of course.
“The amount of money he’s invested in this season, you heard Alex Smith talk about it last night on Monday Night Countdown because he’s been friends with him for so long,” McAfee continued.
“This is the best shape he’s been in, he’s been the most energetic, he felt like he really… I don’t want to say power or influence, but actual say in what was going on in the New York Jets organization , that was something he had longed for for a long time…’
Pat McAfee (L) stated that Aaron Rodgers is ‘as devastated as the rest of us’ after his injury
Rodgers suffered a torn left Achillies just four plays into his New York Jets debut
Following the news of Rodgers’ injury, the Jets confirmed that Zach Wilson will be the starting QB
“We watch Hard Knocks, he changes plays and does his thing. It’s like he’s done all that and four plays happen and then it’s over, he sees it as a sign from the universe. I think this is a damn terrible way to end your NFL career.”
While speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Jets head coach Robert Saleh not only emphasized the fact that Zach Wilson would be the starting QB, but also sternly stated, “I don’t know why people are trying to put an obituary under our name. ‘
Wilson had been the Jets starter in recent years but was demoted to a backup after a terrible season that led to NY trading for Rodgers in the NFL’s story of the summer.
The plan for the 2021 No. 2 overall pick was to learn from Rodgers this season, but that plan quickly disappeared when a sack of Bills DE Leonard Floyd quickly changed the course of Jets history.
McAfee went on to say that if Rodgers were to commit to the grueling rehabilitation required to return and play after suffering an Achilles tendon injury, he would have a new level of respect and appreciation for the work ethic and dedication of the nearly 40-year-old year old QB. to the game.
It should also be noted that Rodgers and McAfee are both good friends, and the relationship between the two has led to Rodgers being constantly featured on McAfee’s show.
It was also recently confirmed that Rodgers still planned to appear in his regular Tuesday slot on the show following McAfee’s debut on ESPN, although he did not appear this week for obvious reasons.