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Wealthy Cimini, ESPN Workers Author
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — After shedding quarterback Aaron Rodgers to a season-ending Achilles tear, confirmed Tuesday by an MRI, New York Jets coach Robert Saleh gave Zach Wilson a powerful endorsement as the brand new starter and scoffed at those that consider their playoff hopes are ruined.
“I do not know why persons are attempting to place an obituary below our staff title,” Saleh instructed reporters on a Zoom name.
Rodgers, injured on the Jets’ fourth snap of the brand new season, was positioned on injured reserve and could have surgical procedure to restore his Achilles. Saleh declined to disclose a timetable, however indicated their hope is that the four-time MVP — the centerpiece to their blockbuster offseason — will stick with the staff throughout his rehab.
The devastating harm sparked intense hypothesis about attainable replacements. The Jets are anticipated so as to add a veteran, however Saleh emphasised that Wilson is the brand new QB1 and that no acquisition could be introduced in to compete with the previous first-round decide.
“I do wish to make it very clear: Zach’s our quarterback,” Saleh mentioned. “We have lots of religion in Zach.
“That is Zach’s staff and we’re rolling with Zach,” he added.
Wilson, who struggled final season and was demoted twice, will make his twenty third profession begin Sunday on the Dallas Cowboys (1-0). Journeyman Tim Boyle shall be introduced up from the apply squad to be the first backup for the sport.
The Jets’ grand plan was to have Wilson, 24, be taught below Rodgers for a few years earlier than returning him to the beginning job, however every little thing modified solely 4:04 into Monday night time’s 22-16 additional time victory over the Buffalo Payments.
Making an attempt to spin away from defensive finish Leonard Floyd, Rodgers’ left leg was planted within the turf and his Achilles ruptured. A slow-motion replay confirmed his left calf — the identical calf he strained in OTAs — reverberating as he went down for the sack.
The offensive linemen tried to assist him up, however Rodgers instructed them, “I am not getting up,” in accordance with guard Alijah Vera-Tucker.
It was a crushing blow to the Jets, who traded for Rodgers and constructed their season round him. Due to his age (39) and the severity of the harm, his future is now a significant query.
Earlier than Monday night time, the previous Inexperienced Bay Packers star mentioned on quite a few events that he needed to play just a few extra years. He is below contract by way of 2025, due a complete of $75 million in ensures after taking a voluntary $35 million pay reduce in August. He is making $37 million this season, all of it assured.
Saleh declined to take a position on Rodgers’ future.
“As you guys can think about, he is down,” Saleh mentioned. “I am going to let him reply these questions. I did not get into the way forward for what he is anticipating or what he is pondering. I feel that is a dialog, tactfully, left for one more day. However he is, as you may think about, with every little thing that he is invested on this, he is clearly a bit of upset.”
Rodgers faces a number of months of intensive rehab, however the Jets need him round.
“All of us need him to be related and I feel he desires to be right here,” Saleh mentioned.
The Jets, who started the season with Tremendous Bowl aspirations, will flip to the quarterback they despatched to the bench within the offseason. They billed this as a “reset” season for Wilson, who spent the previous few months studying at Rodgers’ facet. The hope was that he’d be capable of enhance his fundamentals without having the strain of being the starter. He sparked a firestorm final season when, after a poor efficiency towards the New England Patriots, he declined to just accept any blame for the loss in his postgame information convention. Two days later, he was benched.
Wilson mentioned he is “much more ready” after having labored with Rodgers.
“The toughest half is now placing it right into a recreation, and I’ve acquired to have the ability to try this,” he mentioned Monday night time.
After changing Rodgers in the course of the first possession, Wilson (14-for-21, 140 yards) was uneven. He threw into protection for a pricey interception, however he additionally helped rally the staff from a 10-point deficit within the fourth quarter with a 3-yard landing cross to Garrett Wilson.
Wilson received 5 of his first six begins final season, though he handed for below 155 yards in three of these victories.
Saleh mentioned “every little thing about him is simply a lot totally different than a 12 months in the past. It is taking place quicker than I feel anybody anticipated, clearly, below the circumstances, however he is someone that is made a drastic enchancment from a 12 months in the past.”
Rodgers’ harm sparked dialog across the league on the brand new turf subject at MetLife Stadium and the general security of turf surfaces. Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Darius Slay, chatting with reporters in Philadelphia, ripped the standard of the sphere.
“… MetLife, all people is aware of about that god rattling stadium,” Slay mentioned. “They should get actual grass. That is trash. That is unhappy for anyone to go down as a result of we play this harmful recreation, man. All people thinks we’re superheroes however we’re actually not.”
Saleh does not suppose the sphere triggered the harm, saying, “No. If it was a noncontact harm, I feel that’d be one thing to debate, clearly. However that was form of a forcible [injury]. I feel that was trauma induced. I do know the gamers favor grass and there is a lot invested in these younger males.”
Within the preseason, Rodgers mentioned he prefers to play on grass, however mentioned MetLife Stadium is “among the finest surfaces I’ve seen that is synthetic.”
ESPN’s Tim McManus contributed to this report.