Ex-Jets QB Vinny Testaverde struck with 'bad memories' after watching Aaron Rodgers' injury

Vinny Testaverde was standing next to New York Jets owner Woody Johnson as Aaron Rodgers' debut unfolded in front of them on "Monday Night Football." Spirits were high. Testaverde had been named the Jets honorary captain for the marquee event against the Buffalo Bills and was part of the group, that included Rodgers, moments earlier ahead of kickoff.

Leonard Floyd sacked Rodgers on the fourth offensive play of the Jets' season, and the 39-year-old fell to the ground and required assistance to walk off the field. The MetLife crowd was in shock. And bad memories immediately filled Testaverde's brain.

“Right away, it just came flooding back to me," Testaverde told USA TODAY Sports by phone Wednesday. "This was a Super Bowl contending team, with the high expectations. They had and all that excitement – like it was for me in ‘99.”

In 1999, Testaverde – at that point a 13th-year NFL veteran – was starting his second season with his hometown Jets. The team won the AFC East a year earlier. Testaverde went 12-1 as a starter that season and lost to the Denver Broncos in the AFC championship game. New York entered 1999 with even bigger goals.

“They were talking about us the same way they were talking about this team,” said Testaverde, who played until he was 44 and suited up for seven franchises.

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

But halfway through the second quarter of the season opener against the New England Patriots, Testaverde reacted to a Curtis Martin fumble and ruptured his left Achilles – the same diagnosis Rodgers received – in the process.

Which made Monday night all too real for Testaverde.

"He gets hurt, and I kind of walk to the side (of the suite), started bringing some bad memories back for me," Testaverde said. "I didn’t even want to go back over to Woody when I saw them walking him off the way that they did. Because I know with all the expectations, the excitement, it’s just disappointing – for fans, for Woody, for the team."

Aaron Rodgers' Achilles rupture reminds Vinny Testaverde of 1999 injury

The news cycle that followed Rodgers' injury mirrored the one that played out after his own, Testaverde said.

“Everybody’s kind of deflated. ‘The team’s going to be awful now,’" Testaverde said. "But we really weren’t.”

The Jets finished 8-8 that year despite injuries to key contributors beyond Testaverde, such as receiver Wayne Chrebet. Testaverde credits that result to the coaching staff led by head coach Bill Parcells. Charlie Weis (offensive coordinator) and Bill Belichick (defensive coordinator) were his top two lieutenants, with future head coaches Romeo Crennel, Todd Haley and Eric Mangini also on staff.

“They really coached their butts off, and the players played hard,” Testaverde said. 

The 2023 Jets, Testaverde said, has a better defense than the the 1999 team did. Testaverde said former starter Zach Wilson spending this offseason under Rodgers' wing can only help the 24-year-old as he retakes the reins. From what Testaverde saw Week 1, there has been improvement.

“You go back to a year ago, it looked like he was struggling with his confidence. He was having trouble completing wide-receiver screens," Testaverde said. “Looking at him the other night, he seemed confident. It looked like he was in control of the offense. He was making good throws, good decisions.”

His interception to Matt Milano was a sign to Testaverde that Wilson lost track of the Bills linebacker in coverage.

“That tells me Zach didn’t see him," he said. "But he’ll learn from that.” 

'It's a shock'

Writhing in pain at the old Meadowlands back in 1999, Testaverde knew immediately that his season was over. He didn’t know what the rehabilitation process entailed. Within six months, he felt 100% again but realized there were physical limitations to which he'd have to adjust. No longer could he jump off his left leg, for example.

“That’s not to say Aaron’s not going to come back and be 100% and do all the things he’s done,” said Testaverde, who was 35 at the time of his Achilles injury and played eight more seasons.

The good news for Rodgers, Testaverde, said is that it's the left Achilles that ruptured.

“If you’re going to pick an Achilles to rupture as a quarterback, it’s the left one," Testaverde said. "Because right one is your plant foot to push up in the pocket.

“You can still use that explosion … so that’s a good sign, as well.” 

But Testaverde knows it will be a long time before Rodgers is moving around on a football field.  

“I just hope the fans have the patience to give this team, give the offense, Zach Wilson, the chance to get their feet under them, so to speak, with all that’s happened. Because it’s emotional for them too, the players," Testaverde said. "I know they’re in uniform, it looks like they’re wearing a suit of armor, nothing can affect them. But they were counting on Aaron to be there. So when this happens, it’s a shock. They need to get through that adjustment period as well.”