Jets Receiver Garrett Wilson ‘Heartbroken’ by Aaron Rodgers’ Injury

New York Jets receiver Garrett Wilson said he was "heartbroken" by Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers suffering a torn left Achilles tendon on Monday night against the Buffalo Bills.

Speaking on ESPN New York radio show Bart and Hahn on Tuesday, Wilson, 23, said he checked on Rodgers in the training room at halftime, "just [to] make sure I gave him a hug."

"It really hurt my heart," Wilson said. "He told me just 'sorry kid,' just like that, he said 'sorry kid.' He said he loved me back, and that was it."

Rodgers went down on New York's fourth offensive play on Monday, and had to be helped off the field. He was eventually carted to the locker room, and an MRI on Tuesday morning confirmed the season-ending injury.

Wilson, the reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, was set to benefit significantly from Rodgers' presence. He reeled in 88 catches for 1,137 yards and five touchdowns with the middling combination of Zach Wilson, Mike White and Joe Flacco under center last season.

When Rodgers left the game, Wilson said the Jets were trying to "win for him." And indeed they did, as running back Breece Hall racked up 127 yards on the ground, safety Jordan Whitehead picked off Bills signal caller Josh Allen three times and undrafted rookie wideout Xavier Gipson took it 65 yards to pay dirt on the first punt of overtime, clinching the 22-16 New York victory.

All in all, it was a bittersweet night for the Jets in Met Life Stadium, a feeling that Wilson summed up succinctly.

"We love Aaron, and everyone there loves him," Wilson said. "He brings a certain energy with him, and man, we were trying to imitate it when he went down and win for him, man. Because he deserved to be out there."