The New York Jets went on an emotional roller coaster during Monday Night Football this week, losing quarterback Aaron Rodgers early in the game to a season-ending injury and still winning in overtime on a walk-off punt return touchdown.
Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson made an incredible touchdown catch on the night, but he also saw his team lose its future Hall of Fame quarterback for the year amid earning the division victory over the Buffalo Bills.
Speaking with ESPN New York, Wilson detailed the emotions he went through as he processed Rodgers’ injury and the very sad message that the quarterback told him about his Achilles tear.
“My heart hurts for Aaron,” Wilson told ESPN NY’s Bart & Hahn, “Just seeing him last 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 game, and it sucks.”
ICYMI on @BartAndHahn:@GarrettWilson_V discusses how he’s feeling after last night and his interaction with Aaron Rodgers in the locker room at halftime.
“It really hurt my heart. He told me ‘sorry kid’”. pic.twitter.com/dK0r24S7Ax
— 98.7FM ESPN New York (@ESPNNY98_7FM) September 12, 2023
Wilson said he went to go check on Rodgers at halftime of the game to wish him well and tell him that he loved him, and Rodgers’ message to Wilson was pretty heartbreaking in return.
“It really hurt my heart,” Wilson said. “He told me just ‘sorry kid,’ just like that. He said, ‘Sorry, kid,’ and said he loved me back, and that was it.”
That’s really, really sad, and it underlines the inescapable human element to football and how devastating it is to see one of your teammates go down with an injury.
Rodgers’ absence with the Jets this season will be felt for a long time, but they’ll at least have a talent like Wilson to keep them going.
