Aaron Rodgers ‘thankful’ for return from Achilles tear despite loss to 49ers

SANTA CLARA — When Aaron Rodgers jogged onto the field at Levi’s Stadium on Monday night, almost exactly a year had passed since he tore his Achilles tendon on national television in his debut with the Jets. It had been even longer since he played a full 60 minutes. So, how did a 40-year-old coming off a traumatic injury fare against a team with Super Bowl ambitions?

Given the context, Rodgers was solidly solid — nothing more, nothing less — completing 13-of-21 passes for 167 yards with a touchdown and an interception as the 49ers handily won their season opener, 32-19.

“It’s been a while,” Rodgers said. “I felt great. A lot of gratitude just to be back in pads. So many people helped me get back to this spot, so I’m really thankful to my surgeon, my (physical therapist), my loved ones, my friends, the staff here — training staff — to help me get back was really cool. Obviously, wanted to take a shot and feel the physicality of it. Once I threw a couple balls and took a shot, it felt good. I felt like I was into the game.”

Despite missing all but four snaps last season due to a torn Achilles, Rodgers, who spent two seasons at Cal, didn’t play in any of the Jets’ three preseason games. The last time Rodgers played in a full game before Monday was Jan. 8, 2023 — his final game with the Packers.

For all Rodgers’ time away from competition, he was quick to turn back the clock. Following a quiet opening drive, Rodgers completed 6-of-7 passes for 62 yards during New York’s second possession, a drive that ended in a 3-yard touchdown from running back Breece Hall. On three occasions, the Jets faced a third-and-medium situation. On three occasions, Rodgers found Garrett Wilson to keep the chains moving.

“We had some on-the-ball plays there where I had a menu to choose from,” Rodgers said. “Luckily (I) chose the right ones in those situations, made the proper reads, but I felt the protection that drive was especially good. It was great all night, but that drive, I had a lot of time to throw.”

That drive aside, Rodgers and the Jets offense was otherwise quiet through two quarters. In the early minutes of the second quarter, Rodgers was sacked by Leonard Floyd — the same player who sacked Rodgers last season on the play that tore his Achilles tendon.

Halfway through the third quarter, the Jets trailing by 16 points, Rodgers attempted to find Wilson. Deommodore Lenoir jumped the route and tipped the ball, Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles snagged it and Rodgers had his first pick as a Jet. After the interception, Rodgers responded with his first touchdown.

Rodgers began the drive by completing a screen pass to Wilson for six yards, then found Allen Lazard on a post for 26 yards. Following a short rush and a dropped pass by Hall, Rodgers was gifted a golden opportunity — Floyd jumped offsides, and Rodgers had a free play. Rodgers, as he is wont to do, capitalized by finding Lazard for a 36-yard touchdown. When Rodgers was asked if his first touchdown as a Jet was extra special given that he threw it to Lazard, his teammate from 2018-22 with the Packers, Rodgers took the analytical approach.

“He was open,” Rodgers said with a smile. “He put his hand up. To be honest, I thought they were going to blow the play dead. A lot of times they do on (offsides plays), but I guess it was slow enough to where he was trying to get back. I just kind of looked over to the left to make sure he was offsides. The next thing I was was Allen put his hand up so I threw him the ball.”

“I feel like offensively, we did a lot of really nice things,” said Jets head coach Robert Saleh. “We did. Especially for Aaron on his first game back, we’ll definitely be better.”