Aaron Rodgers returns to MetLife Stadium for the first time since suffering an Achilles tear during his New York Jets debut: ‘Welcome home’
Aaron Rodgers made his return to MetLife Stadium on Sunday, three weeks after tearing his Achilles tendon in his debut with the New York Jets.
The Jets’ X account shared a clip of the veteran quarterback entering the stadium on the back of a golf cart, crutches clutched in his hand, before watching his team take on reigning Super Bowl champions Kansas City Chiefs.
It marks the first time the four-time MVP has returned to MetLife Stadium after suffering his potentially season-ending injury in Week 1.
The sidelined signal caller, dressed casually in a white T-shirt, jeans and sunglasses, appeared to be in good spirits as he waved and smiled at the camera.
Rodgers, 39, suffered the injury just four times during the Jets’ season opener against the Buffalo Bills on September 11.
Aaron Rodgers made his return to MetLife Stadium on Sunday, three weeks after his Achilles tear
Rodgers tore his Achilles minutes in his Jets debut against the Buffalo Bills on September 11
Rodgers won’t be the only VIP attending the game, as Taylor Swift is expected to be in New Jersey to watch the Week 4 game amid her romance with Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.
Initially, it looked like Rodgers would miss the entire year and the injury even cast doubt on his future in the NFL.
Rodgers, who turns 40 in December, even admitted to Pat McAfee that he had considered quitting football immediately after the injury.
‘It’s tough, every day is tough. I have been busy with the rehabilitation and look forward to returning to Jersey one day,” Rodgers said while providing an update on his rehabilitation last week. “It’s disappointing not to be there.”
Rodgers also joked that his rehab is the “reverse darkness retreat,” as he was in a white room with nothing on the walls.
According to ESPN, it is ‘not out of the question’ that Rodgers returns for the Super Bowl in February, with the quarterback refusing to put a timetable on his return.
In the meantime, Rodgers has been watching his new team from home, which he was part of in a blockbuster trade from the Green Bay Packers during the offseason.
But the veteran is apparently unimpressed by what he has seen on the pitch as he gave his teammates some stern advice earlier this week.
Taylor Swift is expected to be present during her romance with Chiefs czar Travis Kelce
Rodgers made his weekly appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” when he said he wasn’t a fan of the “little side conversations” that took place during the 15-10 loss to the New England Patriots and said his teammates had to “grow up.” ‘
“I think we have to keep our balance a little bit better across the board,” Rodgers said.
“Just offensively, we have to not let some of those things happen on the sidelines and be a little bit better and just be a little bit better competitors.
“There’s too many little side conversations, and we just have to kind of grow up with the offense and lock in and do our job and not point fingers at each other — and that’s everybody. Don’t point fingers at the coaching staff, don’t point fingers at each other. Just get back to work and get the job done.”
Rodgers was largely referring to the animated sideline conversations with WR Garrett Wilson and RB Michael Carter.