Will Aaron Rodgers ever be the same following his ‘heartbreaking’ Achilles tear? That is the million-dollar question, says Dr. Ryan Minara. 

Rodgers’ New York Jets debut came to a crashing halt Monday night when the 39-year-old exited the game against the Buffalo Bills after just four snaps. 

Jets fans’ worst fears were confirmed the following day when it was announced that the signal caller had ruptured his Achilles tendon, ruling him out for the season in a devastating blow to New York, who only acquired him in the offseason. 

But Rodgers, who turns 40 in December, vowed to ‘rise again’ as he broke his silence for the first time since the heartbreaking injury on Wednesday night.

While it isn’t out of the realm of possibility for the veteran to make a comeback, he faces an uphill battle and the risk of never reaching the same level again, Dr. Minara, a podiatry specialist at New York’s Mount Sinai Beth Israel hospital, tells DailyMail.com. 

‘I do think that, given the fact that not only is he an elite athlete, he’s one of the best of the best of elite athletes and due to his highly-competitive nature, there’s a distinct possibility of him coming back and playing,’ Dr. Minara says. 

‘But at 40 it’s a much harder recovery than at 20 or even 30. He has the elite athlete and competitive nature working for him, but his age is working against him. 

‘No matter how much of an elite athlete you are, just by his body’s natural aging process, it’s much harder for an Achilles repair to recover and for him to return to be the same Aaron Rodgers that he was before.

‘I do think he’ll work as hard as he can to make it back but it is going to be an uphill battle.’ 

Even if Rodgers beats the battle against Father Time and makes it back to the field, Dr. Minara warns he might not be the same four-time MVP the league has seen before. 

‘I think he can return to play, but will he have the same mobility or strength as he did before? That’s really the million-dollar question,’ adds Dr. Minara, who has experience as a team podiatrist across sports, including lacrosse and triathlon. 

‘I think the Jets might have to switch his style of play. He’ll certainly be less mobile or less willing to break sacks or tackles. They’re going to have to protect him. He’s going to have to stay in the pocket a little more rather than using his legs.

‘Obviously he still has a wonderful arm. It might affect arm strength a little in terms of throwing the ball down field because you do rely on a lot of that strength from your lower body and core but he’ll still be Aaron Rodgers.’

Dr. Minara insists there’s more to the challenge than getting Rodgers back to full health. The Jets not only need to work on improving the quarterback but also their offensive line. 

‘It would benefit him and the team the most, so that he can worry less about having to escape the pocket and use his legs,’ he says. 

‘I do think the Jets should invest in an O-Line so he doesn’t have to worry about using his legs at much.’

It will be along journey back to the field for Rodgers, especially in time for the start of next season. 

Dr. Minara explains that Rodgers will not be able to bear weight on his left foot for at least two weeks post surgery before being able to allow a little bit of pressure in a walking boot once the stitches are taken out. 

The former Green Bay Packers quarterback won’t be able to start general physical therapy until the eight to 16 week mark, with the sport-specific rehab generally not beginning until four or six months post surgery. 

He says that even athletes have to wait until nine or 12 months after the procedure before they’re able to play at a high level.  

Around 75 percent of all Achilles ruptures are among athletes, ranging from elite athletes such as Aaron Rodgers, weekend warriors, collegiate level, according to Dr.  Minara. 

But the Achilles rupture is still one of the toughest injuries to bounce back from, even for the elite sporting stars. 

‘The Achilles is the strongest tendon in the body, it’s under a lot of tension, so when it ruptures it really alters the leg function from that point forward,’ Dr. Minara explains. 

‘That’s why it’s many times a difficult injury to recover from. Because you have to reset that resting tension, you have to strengthen the muscle, then you have to worry about the bloody supply to the area and then healing issues in general.

‘But people do come back. Kobe Bryant ruptured his Achilles tendon and he came back. Was he the same Kobe Bryant after he came back? It’s hard to say because he was already a little older.’

Rodgers’s devastating injury drew criticism of the NFL for allowing teams to play on artificial turf. Currently the league is split – 15 stadiums have grass, 15 use turf.

The league has been accused of putting ‘profit over people’, while the NFLPA has previously demanded an immediate ban on slit film turf. 

But Dr. Minara shuts down any speculation that the turf played any role in Rodgers’s injury, claiming it could have happened anywhere. 

‘There will always be people who complain about turf but there will be certain injuries that occur no matter what,’ he says. 

‘When you look at the slow motion replay of this particular injury it’s just a classic example of when an Achilles tendon ruptures. He already had some nagging calf injuries. He was trying to run away but he was being pinned down, so he was trying to plant and flex down his foot but due to the pressure of the defender on top of him, and due to the fact that he foot was stuck on the ground, the muscle was contracting, the foot couldn’t go anywhere and the Achilles popped. 

‘That type of injury can happen anywhere at any time. I don’t think the turf necessarily played a role in this particular injury. But it is something the NFL really needs to figure out. If there is an increase in specific injury, they need to see if the turf is playing a role in it.’ 

Zach Wilson’s mom, Lisa Neelman Wilson, thanked fans for their support after her son stepped in for the New York Jets following Aaron Rodgers’ ‘heartbreaking’ injury Monday night. 

Rodgers’ Jets career got off to the worst start imaginable Monday night when he exited New York’s win over the Buffalo Bills after injuring his left ankle. 

Coach Robert Saleh admitted it’s ‘not good’ and that he believes Rodgers has an Achilles injury, amid fears the quarterback’s season is over. 

Backup quarterback Wilson, 23, stepped in just 3:45 into the game as the veteran was helped on to a cart and driven away for an X-Ray, ultimately leading the Jets to a 22-16 win at a rainy MetLife Stadium.

Despite previously saying he would ‘make that dude’s life hell’ if the Jets signed a veteran quarterback, Wilson has closely studied Rodgers throughout the preseason with the four-time MVP acting as a mentor. 

Wilson’s mom, Lisa, took to Instagram following Rodgers’ injury, writing on her story: ‘We love @aaronrodgers12. He’s been such a great mentor. Heartbreaking.’ 

In a separate story, Lisa also thanked fans for their support, admitting it was tough to watch her son step in.

She wrote: ‘Watching your kids do hard things, is so much harder than doing them yourself. Not the evening we expected… Just trying to catch my breathe [sic]. I am so overwhelmed by love and support. Literally hundreds of texts and DMs. Some I know and many I have never met. Just know I see you, I can feel you carrying me and I am so grateful to have such amazing people surrounding me and my family. Thank you.’ 

Rodgers dropped back on first down from the Jets’ 43-yard-line and tried to roll out to his left before being sacked by Floyd for a loss of 10 yards. But his left foot appeared to get stuck in the Jets’ turf as he was being tackled.

The Jets still managed to pull off a sensational win with Xavier Gipson’s winning 65-yard punt return touchdown in overtime sending MetLife Stadium wild. 

Rodgers agreed to a restructured contract in July that gives him $75 million in fully guaranteed money over this season and the next. It amounts to a nearly $35 million pay cut from the deal he had in Green Bay. 

Wilson, the former No. 2 overall pick, reportedly had followed Rodgers around like a ‘puppy’ during preseason.

‘You would think that there’s Velcro between Zach Wilson and Aaron Rodgers,’ King told Mike Florio on Pro Football Talk in July. 

‘Zach Wilson is like the puppy to the side of Aaron Rodgers. He is always talking to him, he’s always trying to suck out information from him.

‘Because, I’m sure – I didn’t talk to Zach Wilson – but I’m sure Zach Wilson figures “Hey, we do this for two years, and in training camp 2025, whatever, I get a real, legitimate chance to be a quarterback again”, and that’s how he is taking this.’

Rodgers had spoken glowingly of the 23-year-old, insisting that, despite Wilson’s previous comments, he had made him feel welcome in New York. 

‘He’s been incredible,’ Rodgers said in June. ‘He hasn’t made my life hell everyday. He’s been a joy to work with and I give him so much credit because it´s a tough situation what he went through.’ 

It is a stark contrast to Wilson’s last offseason when his ex-girlfriend accused him of sleeping with his mom’s best friend. 

Abbey Gile made the accusations after she was slammed a ‘homie hopper’ when reports surfaced that she was dating Wilson’s college roommate and best friend, Washington Commanders wide receiver Dax Milne. 

At the time Lisa told DailyMail.com: ‘She (Abbey) is a very angry girl.’ 

Aaron Rodgers injured his left ankle after getting sacked by Leonard Floyd of the Buffalo Bills on the fourth snap in a nightmare start to his New York Jets career, ending his first game for his new team minutes after it had begun.

Rodgers was carted away for an X-Ray, which returned negative. He is expected to have an MRI scan amid significant fears he has an Achilles injury that could end his season, as well as his first Jets game.

Rodgers dropped back on first down from the Jets’ 43-yard-line and tried to roll out to his left before being sacked by Floyd for a loss of 10 yards. But his left foot appeared to get stuck in the Jets’ turf as he was being tackled.

The quarterback hit the ground and grimaced as he clambered back up to his feet for a moment, before dropping back down and sitting on the turf. He had to helped off the field as Zach Wilson made his way out to replace him. Rodgers, 39, went straight into the medical tent in scenes that left the entire NFL stunned.

The quarterback emerged to be helped onto a cart and was driven off for an X-Ray. He was listed as questionable to return but it didn’t take long for him to be officially ruled out of the rest of the game. He was seen with his left foot in a black protective boot.

‘He’s dealing with an ankle issue, we’re getting it checked out and we’ll have an update,’ Jets coach Robert Saleh said at the break between the first and second quarter. 

The amount of scrutiny and excitement over Rodgers and his move to the Jets had dominated the offseason and the hype had reached new heights in the hours before Monday night’s game. 

Things started quietly enough. After a 26-yard run by Breece Hall on the Jets’ opening play, Rodgers threw his first pass away after getting heavy pressure from Gregg Rousseau. Rodgers threw incomplete on the next play, but Terrel Bernard was called for defensive holding.

Then, Rodgers tried to avoid a rushing Floyd, who wrapped up the quarterback and took him down to the MetLife Stadium turf.

And in the cruelest twist of fate, his first game was over just as it had started. Rodgers looked stunned and ashen faced, albeit not in significant pain by his facial expression, with all eyes in the stadium on him rather than the play unfolding on the field itself in the immediate aftermath.

In the moment before the game began, Rodgers had played a central role in the 9/11 tributes at the stadium on the 22nd anniversary of the terrorist attack.

He came out onto the field for his first game holding the American flag as fans got their first look at the quarterback who, in no uncertain terms, has underlined his dream of leading the New York team to Super Bowl glory. 

Rodgers had looked like calmness personified as he warmed up for his first Jets game and even headed over to greet Jake Paul, one of the celebrities watching on in the crowd. 

As a hurt Rodgers made his way off the field, coach Saleh looked lost for words as he tried to retain focus on organizing his team for the rest of the game itself. 

The Jets play Dallas Cowboys next Sunday, a game that Rodgers already looks destined to miss. For both Rodgers and his team, the question marks will inevitably rest on whether the quarterback can play again this season.

Social media was immediately engulfed by speculation on how Rodgers was hurt, with one account – ProFootballDoc – suggesting Rodgers had torn his Achilles due to the way his foot had plugged in the ground.

If so, it would rule Rodgers out for the season. People typically need 4-6 months to return to normal activity from such an injury. 

Rodgers has repeatedly said he won´t be one-and-done with the Jets. 

He agreed in July to a restructured contract that gives him $75million in fully guaranteed money over this season and next. It amounts to a nearly $35m pay cut from the deal he had with Green Bay in which he was set to make $110m guaranteed.

Former Bills punter Matt Araiza said he plans to sue attorney Dan Gilleon for defamation in regard to a civil lawsuit filed by the lawyer that alleged the player took part in a gang rape.

Araiza was released by the Bills last August after he was accused of raping a 17-year-old girl along with two of his former San Diego State football teammates near the school’s campus in the fall of 2021.

However, last month, it was concluded by the DA’s office that Araiza was apparently not present during the alleged 2021 gang rape. There is, however, an ongoing civil lawsuit that remains active.

Now, speaking on HBO‘s Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel on Tuesday night, Araiza revealed he has retained an attorney and will not settle the pending civil lawsuit, as he intends to sue Gilleon for defamation. 

‘I’ve already hired an attorney for it, and things have already been drafted,’ Araiza told HBO’s Andrea Kremer. ‘I will never waive my right to sue him. That’s coming.’

Gilleon, who was also interviewed on the program, insisted Araiza hadn’t necessarily been absolved of liability when asked about the conclusion by the DA’s office that the player had left the party at the time of the alleged gang rape. 

‘We are not saying that he was, and we are not saying that he wasn’t,’ Gilleon said. ‘Let’s say he was not one of the men in there. That doesn’t absolve him of liability.’ 

The new theory reportedly put forward by Gilleon on the program is that Araiza was ‘part of a scheme among several men to target his client, to get her drunk and to take turns having sex with her over the course of the night.’

However, this theory was not included in the original complaint. 

‘Our allegation is, is he contributed heavily to the harm that she suffered that night,’ Gilleon said. 

‘He had sex with my client. Following that, she ended up having sex with multiple guys and came out of there bloodied, in shock.

‘Ended up at the hospital, ended up with the police, and ended up traumatized. So that’s what I mean by the gang rape. Gang rapes can occur for two days. They can occur over time. They can occur multiple places. So that’s the clarification.’ 

Araiza, who said he was in shock when he first read the initial complaint, told HBO he was sure he ‘had never played part in any gang rape.’

He did admit he had sex with the girl but said he believed it to be consensual as he claimed the contact had been initiated by her and that she had ‘made her intentions clear.’

Araiza, who is currently living at home with his parents, did admit that sleeping with the girl only 15-20 minutes after meeting her was ‘stupid’ but insisted it wasn’t deserving of being labeled a ‘gang rapist’ by the media.

He also claimed he was judged in the court of public opinion ‘within seconds’ with no chance to defend himself. 

In May, Yahoo Sports reported on a 200-page unsealed document including a transcript of a conversation where a deputy district attorney told the girl, who at the time of the alleged incident was 17, why charges against Araiza were not pursued.

The DA’s office had apparently concluded that Araiza had left the party in San Diego at 12:30am on the night of October 15, 2021 – around an hour before the gang rape is alleged to have happened that Araiza was accused of participating in.

‘He wasn’t even at the party anymore,’ Trisha Amador is quoted as telling the girl by Yahoo. ‘All I know is that at that point, suspect Araiza is gone from the party.’

The report added that there are recordings of the encounter with the girl where the time stamp is 1:30am. Araiza apparently had a witness that helped prosecutors conclude that he had left around an hour earlier.

In February this year, Araiza’s agent denied that he was signing with a Mexican team in a bid to revive his career and said his client hopes for another chance in the NFL.

He was released by the Bills in late August, amid the allegations and mounting public pressure, despite winning the starting job in training camp. 

The Ray Guy Award Winner – given to the best punter in college football – was a sixth-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft and beat out veteran Matt Haack to be the Bills punter. 

When the lawsuit became public on August 26, Buffalo initially defended Araiza, before eventually cutting the then-22-year-old two days later. 

General manager Brandon Beane said the organization was aware of Araiza’s version of events prior to bringing him to Orchard Park. 

‘I just wanted to show my appreciation’: Damar Hamlin thanks Buffalo nurses for their care of him and other patients during national nurses week… four months on from on-field cardiac arrest

• Damar Hamlin has been an vocal and active member of the Buffalo community 
• On Monday, Hamlin was named the winner of the 2023 George Halas Award 
• DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news 

By Patrick Djordjevic For Dailymail.Com

Published: 12:45 EDT, 16 May 2023 | Updated: 13:39 EDT, 16 May 2023