'Sorry, kid': Aaron Rodgers apologized to Garrett Wilson after tearing Achilles
New York Jets star Garrett Wilson said he spoke with Aaron Rodgers at halftime of Monday night's game against the Buffalo Bills and said the future Hall of Fame quarterback apologized after tearing his Achilles tendon.
"At halftime I just went in to check on him in the training room, just make sure I gave him hugs, told him I love him. It really hurt my heart, he told me just, 'sorry, kid,' " Wilson said during an interview with Alan Hahn and Bart Scott of ESPN 98.7.
Wilson, the reigning offensive rookie of the year, and Rodgers, the 39-year-old four-time MVP, had seemingly developed a strong connection during the offseason that figured to spell good things ahead. But Rodgers' season came to a shocking end after just four snaps.
"Just seeing him (Monday night) and the emotion that was going into him getting out there, being out there, and everything that we had put in this offseason to be able to play in the games, it sucks man. You make it through a whole training camp, you make it through OTAs — something that he didn't have to do by any means, but he wanted to be there and he did everything the right way and then to see it go down like that in our first game is heartbreaking," Wilson said.
Wilson said the Jets, who rallied past the Bills for a rather improbable 22-16 win on Xavier Gipson's walk-off punt return in overtime, wanted to win for Rodgers.
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"For our whole team, we love Aaron... He brings a certain energy with him. Man, we were trying to imitate it when he went down and win for him, because, you know, he deserved to be out there," Wilson said.
Wilson also said he has faith in former No. 2 overall pick Zach Wilson, who has been thrust back into the starting role, and said he's "confident" the Jets don't have to go outside the facility to find a new starting quarterback.
"We're confident in Zach, man. I know how I feel about it. Zach can ball," Wilson said.