Aaron Rodgers was banged up for the second week in a row.
On the pregame injury report due to his left knee, the New York Jets' starting quarterback apparently sprained his ankle in a 23-17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in London. The 40-year-old Rodgers went down while being pressured during a third-down incompletion with 6:07 remaining in the third quarter, but was not forced to miss an offensive snap.
Vikings' defender Jihad Ward hit Rodgers as he released an errant checkdown throw with Jonathan Greenard and Pat Jones also closing in on the passer. Rodgers was twisted down to the ground in a pile of bodies. After the whistle, he rolled over onto his knees in visible discomfort and grabbed his left hamstring area.
"I'm definitely banged up. Got my foot caught on the pile there. Just seems to be a low ankle sprain," said Rodgers during his postgame remarks.
The four-time NFL MVP was able to suck it up and walk off the field under his own power. The Jets drew a 15-yard roughing the punter penalty on the ensuing snap to earn a fresh set of downs. Rodgers quickly declined a trip into the blue medical tent, grabbed his helmet and jogged backed into the game with the offense.
"They were trying to get me in the tent," said Rodgers. "Then, we had a roughing the kicker and I said 'Screw it. I'm going back out there.'"
With a first down at the Jets' 29-yard line, Rodgers drove the Jets down to the Minnesota 14 before stalling out and settling for a field goal that cut the deficit to 17-10 with 00:53 remaining in the third quarter.
Rodgers remained in the game for the remainder, coming up short on a potential game-winning drive that ended on an interception with 00:44 remaining. The Jets' QB1 went 29-of-54 passing for 244 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions.
© Shaun Brooks
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