Sep 11, 2023; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) sits on the field after a sack by Buffalo Bills defensive end Leonard Floyd (not pictured) at MetLife Stadium. Rodgers left the game with an injury after the play. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
NFL: Buffalo Bills at New York Jets
(Florham Park, NJ) – It’s horrific. It’s unbelievable. It’s everything you both feared could happen and can’t fathom now that it did. Just one incomplete-pass into his Jets tenure, Aaron Rodgers season appears finished – after he ruptured his Achilles tendon during the opening night win against the Buffalo Bills.
Despite the win, on a walk-off punt return in OT, third-year QB Zach Wilson (currently the de facto starter) did not impress. He threw an ugly interception and generally speaking isn’t the type of “game manager” QB that the Jets may now prefer, given Rodgers’ presumed absence.
So, what should Gang Green do while so many fans are feeling ill? There aren’t a ton of options with the season in full swing, and trades in the NFL are never extremely common anyway – but perhaps especially in season. Still, circumstances can’t be avoided. The Jets will need to figure out a way to upgrade at QB if they don’t want to watch their season unravel. On defense, the team is elite. They have play makers at key positions – including second-year breakout WR Garrett Wilson, and emerging, hopefully getting healthy Breece Hall.
A former 1st overall pick should be where the Jets turn. With the New Orleans Saints having acquired Derek Carr, Jameis Winston is the team’s current backup. At the same time, the Saints have Taysom Hill who is a jack of all trades that sometimes plays QB. If the Jets are willing to part with a fourth-round pick, that could be enough. Winston is a risk taker at the QB position, and the Jets would likely be better served with a veteran who likes to take care of the football and work through check-down routes, but beggars can’t be choosers.
The other options the Jets are looking at aren’t inspiring, and they wouldn’t be better than Winston. Andy Dalton, the recently-retired Matt Ryan, old friend Sam Darnold – these aren’t good choices for QB. And Tom Brady isn’t walking through that door. Jameis Winston has had an interesting career to date. The Jets appear to be cursed. Maybe the meandering journeyman in Winston is EXACTLY the guy to break the hex.
