Aaron Rodgers’ Achilles tear on Monday night time were given me pondering. Has there been a extra wretched, world-stopping and surprising shock in trendy NFL historical past? 

Let me put some limitations in this earlier than the message forums get started figuring out the worst of soccer’s moments. I’m now not speaking a few vile, long-term shock or one who resulted in a big tragedy. I’m speaking a few surprising shock to a key participant; one nearest which the society is left in hush and the left-overs of the soccer global is left in trauma. 

Listed below are a couple of that spring to mind. 

1. Kimo von Oelhoffen shatters Carson Palmer’s knee: AFC wild-card spherical, 2005

Von Oelhoffen was once a former Bengal and ended up being draped in infamy inside the fan bottom. Then 14 years of lacking the playoffs, Cincinnati got here into the ‘05 postseason as certainly one of the most up to date groups within the league and a sound Tremendous Bowl contender. 

On Cincinnati’s 2nd offensive play games of the sport, the 350-plus-pound defensive take on strike Carson Palmer, shattered his knee and ended any Tremendous Bowl hopes right away. It was once surprising. It was once conclusive. The Bengals additionally had the culmination of a dream-like familiar season of amusing and pleasure. Jets fanatics were given 4 performs from scrimmage.

2. Jason Sehorn tears his knee up returning a kick within the preseason

The Giants had been a scorching Tremendous Bowl select in the summertime of 1998. They’d stunned the league and received a category identify in 1997 with a amusing younger crew of explosive playmakers on offense and protection. 

Certainly one of their maximum promising stars was once additionally being impaired on particular groups during coaching camp. Jason Sehorn was once a celebrity in Unused York, each for his valuable and uber-athletic play games and for his matinee-idol appears to be like. Then a breakout season at cornerback, the Giants coaches determined to experiment with him returning kicks, as smartly. 

They selected the crew’s 3rd preseason sport to present it a journey. Alas, Sehorn tore his ACL and MCL at the first play games of the sport and was once by no means the similar participant once more. The Giants didn’t win the Tremendous Bowl. 

3. Bernard Pollard will get to Tom Brady’s knee

Within the very then sport nearest the Patriots‘ stunning Tremendous Bowl loss to the Giants, Bernard Pollard shattered Tom Brady’s knee in Date 1 of the 2008 familiar season. With expectancies for a revenge excursion and an all-time season being overestimated all summer season, it was once over earlier than the tip of 1 Sunday. Alas, Matt Cassel did are available, journey 11-5 and just about get Unused England into the playoffs. That supplied most likely a gleam of hope for Jets fanatics. 

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4. Bo Jackson’s hip

This miserable shock is on the middle of one of the crucial all-time what-ifs. Bo dislocated his hip in rubbish week of a 1991 playoff sport as opposed to the Bengals. He’d by no means play games every other ill of soccer once more. Do the Raiders beat the Expenses please see era with Bo within the lineup? If the shock happens a decade after, with higher wisdom of sports activities drugs, is Bo ready to play games please see season? Positive plenty, he’d go back to baseball. However that was once it. That one play games ended his soccer occupation.

5. Michael Vick within the 2003 preseason

Michael Vick was once essentially the most electrical participant within the game and a cultural icon. Homogeneous to Sehorn, he needy his leg on a completely meaningless play games all the way through a 2003 preseason sport in opposition to the Ravens. Vick was once inexplicably in for 4 offensive layout and at the fourth, Adalius Thomas shattered his leg. Everybody who beloved the sport in that occasion is aware of the place they had been when it took place. Vick would go back in Date 13 and would have a stellar occupation. However that preseason shock is one who assists in keeping you up at night time. 

Rodgers would possibly go back. He turns out assured this isn’t the tip, however there’s a prospect it’s. My questions are — the place does he rehab? Is he nonetheless across the crew to tutor Zach Wilson as he has been? And if, as he stated, he was once 90% prepared to progress away previous to his darkness retreat, what about now, as he turns 40 in December?

Age will inform and we can quickly get solutions. For now, it’s only a embarassment to lose Rodgers from the spectacle of the 2023 season.

Peter Schrager is an NFL reporter for FOX Sports activities and a number of “Good Morning Football” on NFL Community. You’ll be able to observe him on Twitter at @PSchrags.

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