The 40-year-old sportsman ruptured a tendon on his New York Jets debut in September 2023 and though being sidelined for months as a result was devastating, he is “thankful” for the “lessons” it taught him.

He told Gridiron magazine: “It was definitely a devastating, heartbreaking night – although in a lot of ways I’m thankful for the lessons I learned.

“Obviously, I would have loved for it to have gone differently from night one and from the first drive on.

“But sometimes, in those low moments, you learn a lot about yourself. So, I’m thankful for the lessons.”

Aaron recalled “praying” the injury wouldn’t spell the end for his lengthy career and he’s grateful to be back on the field now.

He said: “I didn’t want it to end with me being carted out and the last images being of me hobbling around trying to get an x-ray on my ankle, praying it was some sort of ankle injury and not the Achilles, even though, in the back of my mind I knew what it was and I knew it was significant and substantial and that it would be a long time until I got back.

“That night, I went to sleep and was just praying that wasn’t the last time that I took the field.

“I set my sights on a comeback as quickly as possible and I’m thankful to be back in a jersey, running around, throwing and doing all the things I know I’m capable of doing.”