Aaron Rodgers, the New York Jets‘ veteran quarterback, revealed on Sunday that he’s battling a low ankle sprain, suffered during the Jets’ 23-17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in London. Rodgers, visibly hobbled after the game, admitted, “I’m definitely banged up,” confirming the physical toll the last few weeks have taken on him.
The injury occurred during a third-quarter pile-up, where Rodgers’ foot got caught as he was brought down. The Jets’ offensive line struggled to protect their star quarterback, allowing 11 quarterback hits and three sacks against Minnesota. This comes just a week after Rodgers endured a brutal five sacks and 14 hits in a Week 4 matchup against the Denver Broncos.
Despite a visibly swollen knee earlier in the week, which limited him in practice, Rodgers pushed through to play. He aggravated the injury further when he appeared to clutch the back of his hamstring while going down in the third quarter. As he limped off the field and approached the medical tent, a roughing-the-kicker penalty gave the Jets new life. Rather than taking a break to recover, Rodgers returned to the field, stating, “Screw it, I’m going back out there.”
Rodgers’ toughness is unquestionable, but his mounting injuries raise concerns about how much longer he can continue to take such a beating. With the Jets facing more tough matchups ahead, his health will be crucial for the team’s chances to stay competitive.
