In terms of quarterback hits, Leonard Floyd’s takedown of Aaron Rodgers on Monday night barely registered on the Lawrence Taylor-Joe Theismann scale.
Rodgers had spun away from Floyd’s direct hit but something was happening with his lower leg.
Rodgers stood up, his face betraying no pain, and a few seconds later gently sat down on the turf and rolled backwards.
TV cameras followed him on his cart ride to the X-ray room, his right foot in a walking boot.
First came ESPN’s sideline report that Rodgers had suffered an ankle injury and was questionable to return.
Then another that X-rays were negative.
Before long, internet doctors were claiming they saw a little pop on the replay, portending an Achilles tear, and ESPN insider Adam Schefter furthered that theory at halftime.
After the game, miraculously won by the Jets, 22-16, on a scintillating overtime punt return by Xavier Gipson, head coach Robert Saleh glumly confirmed the likely diagnosis, which the Jets confirmed Tuesday morning is a fully-torn Achilles tendon.
So after half a year of trade talks between the Jets and Packers, Rodgers’ weekend in a darkness retreat, the hiring of his buddy Nathaniel Hackett as offensive coordinator, a roster constructed partially to his specifications, his grand tour of every New York City sporting event and many of Broadway’s plays, five episodes of “Hard Knocks” in what essentially was a one-man show, one preseason touchdown pass to Garrett Wilson and four plays in his Jets white No. 8 legacy uniform, here we are:
With Zach Wilson back as the starting quarterback of the New York Jets.
Will Wilson get it done?
The oddsmakers were quick to say a resounding no.
Prior to Monday’s game the Jets were listed at 18/1 at BetMGM to win Super Bowl LVIII, tied for seventh with the Ravens and Lions.
By midnight, those odds had skyrocketed to 50/1, putting the Jets in the middle of the pack with the likes of the Falcons, Vikings and Seahawks.
Wilson is 8-14 as a starter and has thrown 16 touchdown passes along with 19 interceptions.
Quite a few of those interceptions have helped to turn potential wins into losses, and many believed if Wilson had played to the level of an average NFL quarterback last season, the Jets would have made the playoffs.
The Jets certainly saw themselves as “a quarterback away,” which is why they went after Rodgers.
Talent around him
Wilson will certainly have a lot to work with, starting with Garrett Wilson.
The 2022 Offensive Rookie of the Year scored the Jets’ lone offensive touchdown Monday.
The reason he had to make a circus catch was because the intended back-shoulder fade was thrown to the wrong spot.
But that’s the benefit of having great teammates.
Wilson also can lean on Breece Hall (127 rushing yards vs. Buffalo) and Dalvin Cook.
Plus the quarterback will be the beneficiary of a ferocious defense, one that rolled up five sacks and four takeaways against the Bills.
The Jets most likely will not need to score a ton of points to have a chance to win each week.
Depending on how Rodgers’ recovery goes, Wilson might get to have the legend in his ear as a quarterback whisperer.
Last year, he encountered mostly scorn and blame but it appears he may have repaired his reputation with his teammates this summer.
Who else is out there?
Former Packers backup Tim Boyle is on the practice squad after spending preseason with the Jets.
His overall performance wasn’t too inspiring but he did finish strong, throwing two touchdown passes to Alex Erickson in the finale vs. the Giants.
He’s 0-3 as a starter (with the Lions in 2021) but he knows Hackett’s system and has gotten recent reps with these players.
Former starters Carson Wentz, Matt Ryan and ex-Jet Joe Flacco are unsigned free agents.
Journeyman Colt McCoy spent the preseason with the Cardinals and is available.
GM Joe Douglas could look to make a trade.
Jameis Winston is backing up Derek Carr in New Orleans, and maybe the Titans would be open to an opportunity to move on from Ryan Tannehill.
Douglas traded next year’s No. 1 pick to the Packers in the Rodgers deal but that was contingent on Rodgers playing 65 percent of the snaps this season, which will not happen.
So Green Bay instead will receive a second-rounder but Douglas likely will not be able to use that No. 1 pick in another deal until the end of the season when the Rodgers contingency is officially settled.
There are other quarterbacks stashed on practice squads around the league who are available to sign, but that list looks more like a “Who’s That?” than a “Who’s Who.”
Bill Kostroun for the NY Post
Jeff Driskel, Will Grier, Shane Buechele, Jake Fromm, John Wolford, Brett Rypien, Max Duggan and the Giants’ Tommy DeVito are some of the more recognizable names.
Clearly though, there isn’t a quick-fix quarterback the Jets can bring in for their Week 2 game Sunday at the Cowboys, meaning it’s Wilson’s show for the time being.
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