Aaron Rodgers achieves a Jets milestone in his first game at MetLife Stadium since his Achilles injury.

Aaron Rodgers played in the first two weeks of the 2024 NFL season, but New York Jets fans eagerly anticipated Thursday night's home opener because it marked his return to his hometown since his Achilles injury.

In his first season as a Jet, Rodgers suffered an Achilles injury on the MetLife Stadium turf during the fourth snap he took with his new team against the Buffalo Bills.

In East Rutherford, New Jersey, MetLife Stadium was filled with Jets fans eager to witness Rodgers' performance against the New England Patriots in their Week 3 matchup. And he did not disappoint.

Although the Jets couldn't score in the first series, Rodgers capitalized on the defense's three-and-out on the Patriots' first drive.

In eight plays, Rodgers led his Jets offense 73 yards after the Patriots’ punt, using a screen pass to Allen Lazard to cap his first touchdown drive and take off 4:13 of clock.

Lazard scored a touchdown for the Packers after a one-on-one matchup with his defender on the Patriots’ 10-yard line. Rodgers quickly snapped the ball left to Lazard, and the Patriots’ cornerback missed as Lazard’s undershirt was ripped from the bottom as he fell into the end zone.

Lazard recognized the significance of the touchdown to Rodgers and handed him the ball after running up to him.

Rodgers' Jets teammates patted his helmet in approval after he scored the first touchdown at home, a moment football fans have been eagerly anticipating.

Last year, when Rodgers went down on the same turf during Week 1, there was immense excitement about the Jets' potential to succeed. Despite not making the playoffs in 12 years, which was the longest drought in American sports, the team had a lot of hype surrounding them.

The Achilles tear not only caused immense pain to the organization and its fans but also raised the possibility of Rodgers retiring. However, the four-time MVP did not want to end his career that way and began working towards a return in New York.

This season, the Jets have a 1-1 record with Rodgers healthy, having won against the Titans in Tennessee last week.

Fans of the Jets are hoping that Rodgers will remain healthy for the rest of the season so he can continue to throw touchdowns at home for many games to come.

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