As Aaron Rodgers went down with what has been reported as an ankle injury in his New York Jets debut on Monday Night Football, the NFL fraternity had members begin to throw their support for the past Super Bowl winner.
Along with support from a fellow Super Bowl champ, one other NFL player voiced his displeasure on why the injury occurred — immediately targeting the league.
Patrick Mahomes Throws Support, David Bakhtiari Sends Fiery Message
Rodgers, in just his first drive as a Jet, was helped off the field then later carted off during the Jets’ season opener versus AFC East rival the Buffalo Bills. It was reported on Tuesday, September 12, that Rodgers completely tore his Achilles and would miss the remainder of the NFL season.
An MRI confirmed today that Aaron Rodgers officially tore his Achilles on the fourth play of his Jets’ career.
Rodgers’ season now, officially, is over. There already are questions about whether his Hall-of-Fame career is, too.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 12, 2023
From the NFL players’ standpoint, notable supporters for Rodgers featured Kansas City Chiefs two-time Super Bowl winner Patrick Mahomes and a former Green Bay Packers teammate of Rodgers David Bakhtiari.
MORE: Why Aaron Rodgers’ Injury Could Save Jets a 2024 First-Round Pick
Mahomes, who has done commercials alongside Rodgers for State Farm, didn’t mention Rodgers by name. But his post on X clearly indicated he was throwing his support for his fellow quarterback peer.
“Hate that, man…Praying for the best,” Mahomes posted.
Hate that, man… Praying for the best 🙏🏽
— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) September 12, 2023
Bakhtiari, however, was more vocal.
The three-time Pro Bowler, who spent 10 seasons protecting Rodgers for the Packers, directed his verbose response to the league — demanding that the league must perform a better job at handling player safety so an injury like Rodgers’ won’t happen in the future.
“How many more players have to get hurt on ARTIFICIAL TURF??! You care more about soccer players than us,” Bakhtiari posted on X. “You plan to remove all artificial turf for the World Cup coming up. So clearly it’s feasible.”
Bakhtiari wasn’t through. He ended with “I’m sick of this…Do better!”
Congrats @nfl. How many more players have to get hurt on ARTIFICIAL TURF??! You care more about soccer players than us. You plan to remove all artificial turf for the World Cup coming up. So clearly it’s feasible.
I’m sick of this..Do better!— David Bakhtiari (@DavidBakhtiari) September 12, 2023
Notable players who hit “like” on his post? Mahomes and San Francisco 49ers All-Pro tight end George Kittle. Even former NFL offensive lineman Geoff Schwartz voted no for turf.
Yes. No more turf.
— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) September 12, 2023
His brother, four-time Pro Bowler and two-time Super Bowl winner for the Chiefs Mitchell Schwartz, was just as vocal in reacting to the issue of turf. He responded to a post from NFL insider for Sports Illustrated Albert Breer how team owners find adding turf cheaper to install with stadium costs and tickets rising.
“Don’t own a team then. Football teams make a ton of money and the value of the asset continues to climb. You know what would make their team more valuable? Having a surface that has the best chance of not causing injuries to their own players. Stop this kind of excuse making,” Schwartz said on X.
Breer claimed that he wasn’t making excuses for the NFL owners’ frame of mind for turf, telling Mitchell Schwartz “I’m calling them greedy and cheap.”
Has Jets Super Bowl Hopes Dashed? New Odds
With Rodgers out, former starting quarterback for the Jets Zach Wilson handled the reins from the second offensive possession on out.
Prior to the injury, the addition of Rodgers via trade before the 2023 NFL Draft sparked new intrigue for Jets football, with fans clamoring for the franchise’s first Super Bowl since the 1968 season when they stunned the Baltimore Colts. The Jets became a trendy AFC contender by numerous NFL analysts with the addition of the 10-time Pro Bowl and Super Bowl 45 winner.
However, SportsLine on CBS Sports calculated that with Wilson back behind center, the Jets’ chances of making the playoffs is now under 5%.
The Jets chances of making the playoffs:
with Aaron Rodgers as starter: 59.7%
with Zach Wilson: 4.7%According to our SportsLine simulations pic.twitter.com/Q45soBI6Bj
— SportsLine (@SportsLine) September 12, 2023
