Jordan Love, David Bakhtiari 'gutted' by Aaron Rodgers' injury

Aaron Rodgers left plenty of friends behind when he cleaned out his locker in Green Bay to head to NYC. So count David Bakhtiari and Jordan Love among the gutted after seeing their old QB go down in the season opener.

Bakhtiari was Rodgers’ left tackle, the guy who protected his blind side. Bakhtiari gifted Rodgers a golf cart before training camp in 2022. And you could see the two riding all over the practice fields. If Rodgers ever was knocked down, his loyal tackle offered his hand to pull him back up.

The Packers drafted Love in 2020 as Aaron Rodgers’ heir apparent. Although Rodgers bristled at the move by Packers management, he never seemed to take it out on the younger quarterback. Rodgers sent him a sweet text message to start training camp back in late July. And Love messaged Rodgers after he tore his Achilles Monday night.

“Having an injury like that, it’s tough, it’s tough to hear,” Love told reporters as he spoke of Aaron Rodgers. “He’s probably going through it with the injury. It just sucks. You never want to see that happen. And I feel for him.”

Baktiari and Rodgers, a couple of free-spirited Californians, have been close for years. There was even speculation that the tackle would follow teammates Randall Cobb and Allen Lazard to the Jets to play with Rodgers. Instead, Bakhtiari stayed behind in Green Bay and watched his former teammates open their season against the Bills. The tackle said he knew Rodgers’ injury was serious as soon as he saw the replays.

“I was just gutted for him,” Bakhtiari said. “I know all that he was dealing with and how excited he was, and I know how much the game means to him.

“For it to go that quick, especially with that type of injury and having to bounce back from that, it’s going to be tough. He’s a tough dude. Tough times don’t last; tough people do.”

Aaron Rodgers’ time as the starting quarterback with the Jets this year lasted all of four offensive snaps. Most expect him to be back. But age isn’t on his side as he has surgery and then a lengthy rehab process. The Achilles may be the hardest working part of the leg, controlling how you walk, run and jump. It could take up to a year before Aaron Rodgers is healthy. And by then, he’ll be close to 41. At 39 and nearly 10 months, he already was the oldest player in the NFL.

After two days of silence, Aaron Rodgers finally issued a message to his friends and fans. He shared on social media:

“Thank you to every person that has reached out, called, texted, DM’d, connected through a friend, etc. It has meant a ton to me, and I’ll try and get back to all of you soon. I’m completely heartbroken and moving through all of the emotions, but deeply touched and humbled by the support and love. Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers as I begin the healing process today.

“The night is darkest before the dawn. And I shall rise yet again. Proud of my guys, 1-0.”