During the NFL offseason, no team in the league got more hype or exposure than the New York Jets after the team had acquired four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers in a blockbuster trade with the Green Bay Packers.
The Jets were thought to have found the missing piece to the championship puzzle with Rodgers under center with all the momentum heading into their season opener against the division rival Buffalo Bills in Week 1 at MetLife Stadium.
Unfortunately for New York, the team’s hopes of contending for a Super Bowl title came crashing down on the team’s first offensive series of the season, with Rodgers going down with a season-ending Achilles injury.
Although anything is possible, as the Jets could figure out how to get it done without Rodgers, the consensus right now is New York’s chances of competing for a title have taken a significant blow, and making the playoffs might be the extent of the team’s expectations moving forward.
As for Rodgers, all signs point to the veteran quarterback not giving up on his Hall-of-Fame career, as he fully intends to continue playing once he’s recovered from the injury.
Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, who is as close to Rodgers as anybody in the league, told reporters he believes his friend will return to the football field, via Ari Meirov.
A very optimistic Nathaniel Hackett responded with a confident "oh yeah" when asked if he believes Aaron Rodgers will return next season.
"Whenever Aaron's got his mind set on something, good luck for anybody who wants to change his mind."pic.twitter.com/9weYPehAFT
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 14, 2023
With Rodgers letting it be known on social media that he will be back and Hackett and head coach Robert Saleh echoing that sentiment, it seems inevitable that the superstar will be back on the gridiron when he’s healthy and ready to go.
The real question is whether he can still play at a high level at that point and if the Jets will still be in the position they are today in terms of being able to compete for a title.
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