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The Jets won the game Monday night but may have lost their franchise quarterback in the process.

It only took one offensive possession for the Jets’ dream season to become a nightmare.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the team’s prized offseason acquisition, may have torn his left Achilles tendon on just his fourth play of the season opener against the Bills.

Rodgers will undergo an MRI exam on Tuesday, but the Jets believe the test will confirm the tendon is torn, which would end his season.

“Concerned with his Achilles,” Jets coach Robert Saleh said. “The MRI is probably going to confirm what we think is already going to happen. So prayers tonight, but it’s not good.”

The injury overshadowed a dramatic 22-16 overtime win for the Jets over their division rivals to open the season 1-0.

Gang Green won it in scintillating fashion with rookie Xavier Gipson breaking a 65-yard punt return for the walk-off touchdown to end the game.

The Jets overcame a 10-point halftime deficit to get the win.


  The Jets celebrate after Xavier Gipson’s game-winning punt return on Monday night. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post The Jets celebrate after Xavier Gipson’s game-winning punt return on Monday night. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

  Xavier Gipson is all smiles after his game-winning punt return for a touchdown on Monday night. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post Xavier Gipson is all smiles after his game-winning punt return for a touchdown on Monday night. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

With Rodgers out, the Jets leaned on their defense, which forced four turnovers from Bills quarterback Josh Allen.

The Jets tied the game 13-13 with 4:55 left in regulation on an amazing 3-yard touchdown catch by Garrett Wilson from Zach Wilson, who replaced the injured Rodgers.

Garrett Wilson was covered by Tre’Davious White but was able to make an acrobatic catch for the score.

On the first Bills play after the touchdown, quarterback Josh Allen bobbled a shotgun snap, then tried to run and coughed up the ball when he was hit hard by Micheal Clemons.

Safety Tony Adams recovered the ball at the Bills’ 27.

It was Allen’s fourth turnover of the game. Jordan Whitehead intercepted Allen three times, the third setting up the game-tying touchdown.

After the fumble, the Jets ran the ball three times and had a fourth-and-1 situation at the Bills’ 18.

Saleh elected to go for the first down instead of kicking the field goal.


  Garrett Wilson celebrates his touchdown catch against the Bills. Getty Images Garrett Wilson celebrates his touchdown catch against the Bills. Getty Images

Zach Wilson was able to get the first down on a sneak and the Jets milked some clock and were able to force the Bills to use timeouts.

Greg Zuerlein booted the go-ahead, 30-yard field goal with 1:51 left.

The Bills got the ball back and moved 43 yards in nine plays to set up a 50-yard field goal by Tyler Bass that tied the game 16-16 with two seconds left in regulation.

The kick hit the left upright but ricocheted in to force overtime.

The Jets’ defense held the Bills to a three-and-out to start overtime, setting up the Sam Martin punt to Gipson.

The joy of the season-opening win was dampened by the Rodgers injury.

The injury occurred when Bills edge rusher Leonard Floyd beat left tackle Duane Brown and sacked Rodgers.

The 39-year-old’s left ankle turned awkwardly as Floyd dragged him to the ground.

Rodgers initially got up but then quickly realized he could not put weight on the foot.

He sat on the MetLife Stadium turf and the home crowd went from celebratory to funereal.

“The league is better when Aaron Rodgers is on the field,” running back Dalvin Cook said. “It’s bad that he went down so early; the people didn’t get to see what we’ve been working on this whole time.”

Trainers helped Rodgers off the field and into the blue medical tent on the sideline.

After a few minutes inside, a cart was pulled up alongside the tent and Rodgers was loaded onto it.


  Aaron Rodgers was injured in the Jets game against the Bills on Monday night. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post Aaron Rodgers was injured in the Jets game against the Bills on Monday night. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

He was carted about 25 yards and then limped up the walkway to the locker room, clearly unable to put any weight on the left leg.

Rodgers was carted to the X-ray room with a boot on his left foot.

The Jets declared Rodgers out for the game, and Saleh later confirmed they fear he tore his Achilles.

“Personally, I don’t hurt for me,” Saleh said. “I don’t hurt for our locker room. I hurt for Aaron and how much he’s invested in all of this. I’m still going to say a prayer. I’m still going to hold out hope. My heart’s with Aaron right now and nowhere else.”


  Zach Wilson walks of the field after leading the Jets to a victory over the Bills on Monday night. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post Zach Wilson walks of the field after leading the Jets to a victory over the Bills on Monday night. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

A season-ending injury would be an incredible dose of bad luck for the Jets, a franchise that has felt cursed before.

It was hard not to feel déjà vu from the 1999 season opener when quarterback Vinny Testaverde tore his Achilles, putting a quick end to their Super Bowl hopes.

Testaverde was in the stadium Monday as the Jets’ honorary captain.

The night began with high emotions as the Jets had dramatic pregame introductions that culminated with Rodgers running onto the field with an American flag to commemorate the 22nd anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

The crowd gave Rodgers a thunderous ovation, and the buildup of months of anticipation for Rodgers’ debut hit a crescendo.

Rodgers threw two incompletions — one that was wiped out by a penalty — before suffering the injury.

The hype for this opener was bigger than any Jets game in years.

Since the Jets began their pursuit of Rodgers in the winter and then completed the trade for him in April, the anticipation had only grown.

The four-time MVP had Jets fans dreaming of a Super Bowl win.

Those dreams turned into nightmares before the smoke from the pregame fireworks even cleared.

“I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t lingering in the back of my head the whole time,” Garrett Wilson said. “Since I came in for halftime, I made sure to check on my dog. It’s just something you hate to see as a competitor, knowing how much we put into this to be able to perform not at practice but perform for the game. To see him go down this first game, so quickly in, it sucks, man.”

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