Leonard Floyd sacked Aaron Rodgers on the New York Jets' fourth offensive snap in 2023, and a Gang Green nightmare ensued.
As Rodgers went down to the MetLife Stadium turf, the future Hall-of-Fame quarterback ruptured his left Achilles and was lost for the season. The Jets struggled to find adequate quarterback play en-route to a 7-10 record.
At 40 years old, Rodgers is back and ready to roll but he'll have to conquer a demon of sorts right from the start.
Floyd, who recorded 10.5 sacks for the Buffalo Bills last year, has since signed with the San Francisco 49ers, who will be the Jets' Week 1 opponent on Monday Night Football. Rodgers will have to face Floyd in the season opener for the second year in a row, but there are no hard feelings from the 40-year-old field general.
"I hope he doesn't anyway feel responsible for that at all. He's a standup guy. I've worked out with him in the offseason," said Rodgers about the rusher, who turns 32 years old on September 8.
Prior to three seasons with the Los Angeles Rams followed by one in Buffalo, Floyd came up in the NFC North competing against Rodgers's Green Bay Packers. The 2016 first-round draft pick spent four years with the Chicago Bears.
"I've always enjoyed some side conversations with Leonard over the years. He's a great player. Played against him on a couple different teams now," said Rodgers. "I teased him because a few years ago when he was at the Rams. I got him to bite on a pump fake and kind of snuck in the end zone, which never happened again. The next time we ran that I pump faked, he ran right in my chest, so he's a great player."
On September 9, Rodgers and Floyd will meet again.
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