How the Aaron Rodgers injury affects the Lions and the NFC North

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers went down with what appeared to be a season ending Achilles injury early on into a Monday Night Football meeting with the Buffalo Bills. Believe it or not, even though Aaron Rodgers is out of the NFC North, this still has an impact on the Detroit Lions and the […]

Mike Payton — Detroit Lions Beat Writer

Sep 12, 2023 7:41 AM EDT

While it doesn't directly affect the Lions, it does affect a Lions rival, which effects the Lions in the end. Here's what's happening. When the Green Bay Packers traded Rodgers to the Jets, they did so for a conditional second round pick.

That pick could become a first round pick if Aaron Rodgers were to play 65% of the Jets offensive snaps in 2023. While we don't have full confirmation yet, you can see Rodgers calf recoil on the replay. He's more than likely done for the year and one of the Lions biggest rivals just lost a first round pick.

That's a big deal for a team that's trying to rebuild after years of stability. They do keep that pick, but it will revery to a second round pick. You can still make some good picks there, but the opportunity to grab two first round talents is gone.

As for Rodgers, there's a chance that his career might have ended on Monday night. The thought is that Rodgers didn't just tear his Achilles, he may have completely ruptured it. It's hard for a player to come back from that injury in their 20's. Rodgers is in his 40's. That means his last full game could very well have been against the Lions in Week 18 of last season.

Dan Campbell’s aggressiveness comes from lessons he learned in the past

I don't if anyone has noticed, but Detroit Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell loves to fake a punt. He's attempted eight of them since he became the Lions coach and he's converted on seven of them. That incudes last Thursday's insane fake punt for the Lions own 17. There might be a reason why Campbell […]

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