Aaron Rodgers says return to MetLife Stadium was ‘pretty special’

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers returned to MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday night for the first time since his Achilles tear in the first game of the season. Rodgers walked on the field pregame on crutches and then watched the game in Jets owner Woody Johnson’s box.

He made his weekly appearance Tuesday on The Pat McAfee Show and explained why the moment was special to him.

It was good to be back,” Rodgers said. That was a fun moment. To be carted off the field three weeks ago and then to be able to walk back on the field with a little assistance from the crutches was pretty, pretty special. Just to be in a locker with the guys and talk to them Saturday night, just feel the energy and the excitement was everything I needed.”

Rodgers went down injured Sept. 11 in the Jets’ season opener versus the Buffalo Bills on the fourth play of the season.

Sunday’s game was the third home game of the year for the Jets and second primetime game.

“The first goal was really to be able to be up right, to be out of a boot and to be able to do some semblance of walking,” Rodgers said. “I had this game circled on my schedule. I couldn’t fly until I got cleared again last week with no blood clots. Coming to the Sunday night game was always on the agenda and that was the goal. Definitely met that one. Now the next goal is to be able to walk without crutches.”

New York has lost the last three games without Rodgers as Zach Wilson has struggled to fill the large shoes of Rodgers. He played his best game of the season Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs in primetime.

However, he fumbled the ball with about seven minutes left in the game and Kansas City recovered. The Chiefs never gave the ball back as they pulled out a 23-20 victory.

“It’s on me,” Wilson said after the game. “Critical situation. I can’t have a play like that. I cannot drop the ball. This team is sacrificing a lot. Guys are making plays. Defense is making plays. The line is protecting. Receivers are making plays. To be driving right there and to drop a snap, I cannot do that. I lost us that game and I cannot do that.”

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