Continuing to brief the public on his surprising effort to make an in-season return from an Achilles tear, Aaron Rodgers will take a pivotal step. The Jets are preparing to open their quarterback’s practice window Wednesday.
This transaction will give the Jets three weeks to determine if Rodgers makes sense as a candidate to come off IR. Going down four plays into his Jets tenure, Rodgers has insisted he wants to return. The future Hall of Famer underwent a speed-bridge surgery to repair the injury, and the operation is believed to allow for a quicker path back. So far, that has proven true.
Rodgers has stopped short of guaranteeing he will be back, citing the Jets’ playoff chances. But he has also not ruled out rejoining a team out of contention. With the Jets 4-7, this looms as a curious comeback effort. Though, the team will follow through with the first part of it.
During his most recent Pat McAfee Show-based update, Rodgers reaffirmed (via the Washington Post’s Mark Maske) hopes to return but determined he was not ready to make a full determination on coming back this season. Although Rodgers pried the door back open regarding a comeback for a team without legitimate playoff aspirations, he again said the Jets’ record will be a factor. ESPN’s FPI gives Gang Green a 0.4% chance to make the playoffs. That would seemingly point to the soon-to-be 40-year-old passer storing his cleats and preparing for the offseason program, but he will begin to see how he feels in practice.
An activation would mark a historic comeback from an Achilles tear. Players have come back from Achilles ruptures in the not-so-distant past — just not this quickly. Then-Rams running back Cam Akers went down in July 2021 but was back by Week 17. Terrell Suggs and Michael Crabtree, respectively, suffered tears during the spring of 2012 and 2013, respectively. The Ravens linebacker and 49ers wide receiver each came back during the season. Suggs was back by Oct. 21, 2012; Crabtree returned Dec. 1, 2013.
While Rodgers’ position is not predicated as much on athleticism, coming back around three months after an Achilles tear would be a significant NFL accomplishment. Even returning to practice in-season is notable as far as Achilles recoveries go. It reminds of Jerry Rice‘s 1997 timetable. The legendary wideout suffered a partially torn ACL in Week 1 of his 13th season but was back in uniform for San Francisco’s Week 16 matchup with Denver. Rice scored a touchdown upon returning but was lost for the season after reinjuring the knee during that Monday-night game, hurting the eventual No. 1-seeded team’s Super Bowl chances. The Jets’ 2023 season will not stand to complicate a Rodgers return, as the team’s recent struggles make this more about one player’s quest than a return that impacts the AFC playoff race.
Robert Saleh said Wednesday that Rodgers has been cleared for functional football activity and added the 19th-year veteran returning to practice now would not jeopardize his long-term outlook. Rodgers almost definitely would not be signing off on this if he feared a reinjury, one that would impact his 2024 status, and will only come back upon receiving full clearance, ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini notes. Saleh had previously said the Jets would not stand in Rodgers’ way if he wants to come back — even in a potentially lost season — and ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano adds the team indeed is not expected to block its starter from returning under these circumstances.
Rodgers also left the door open to this practice return not leading to game action. If the Jets do not activate Rodgers by Dec. 20, he will land on season-ending IR. Given their recent woes, that still seems like the most likely outcome. The Jets benched Zach Wilson once again and have turned to Tim Boyle, who is on track to return as the team’s Week 13 starter. New York has lost four straight, seeing Wilson flatline and Boyle lead a 159-yard offensive effort in a one-sided Week 12 loss to the Dolphins.
This once-farfetched return scenario reached the point in which GM Joe Douglas said the team expected to have its starter back before season’s end. Those remarks came at the trade deadline, when the Jets still enjoyed more realistic playoff goals. The team would have a chance to see how Rodgers looks with its set of skill-position players, though offensive line injuries should also be a factor when the parties determine if a comeback is worthwhile. Alijah Vera-Tucker is out for the season, while Connor McGovern and Wes Schweitzer are on IR. Both Duane Brown and Mekhi Becton have missed time this year. Assuming the Jets retain their coaching staff for 2024, the team would not exactly need to see Rodgers in its system this season. Rodgers worked with embattled OC Nathaniel Hackett from 2019-21.
A $35MM guaranteed roster bonus awaits Rodgers next year, and despite being close to retirement this offseason, the four-time MVP has since said he viewed the Jets trade as a path toward a multiyear partnership. The Jets reworked Rodgers contract this summer, with the outspoken QB taking a pay cut in order to help the team bolster its roster. The team has received criticism for not doing more to replace Rodgers, and Wilson’s repeated shortcomings have led the route to 4-7. But Rodgers remains in the Jets’ future beyond 2023. Will this long-rumored plan of a return before that point actually lead to more game action?
Lmao there’s no way
If he comes back and the Jets let him come back this season it will be the worst decision. They have virtually no shot at the playoffs and you know some eager linebacker or D-lineman is going to take a shot at the injury. Ride it out this year and try again next year.
“Virtually no shot” my ass! With the Jets starting the 21-day clock for Rodgers on 11/29, their schedule coming up is Atlanta home, Houston home, Miami away. Stranger things have happened in the NFL.
So with a Win, a loss, and another loss they have a shot?
You can always watch a WWF pay-per-view if you want the outcome determined in advance.
Playing this season is Rodgers’ seppuku
He wants to play this season and get it out of the way instead of waiting until next season and having to endure a whole season under center.
I’m wondering why the NFL isn’t marketing a product called the Rodgers Boomerang. It’s main feature is that no matter how hard you try to rid yourself of it…it keeps coming back.
He luvs to see his name in print, hates when he is afterthought, and frankly gives ol Favre a run 4pageant queen w/personal drama. Travis Kelce w/singer has got 2B killing em. Danica didnt move dial like that 4him. Surprised ny post doesnt have daily Arods achillies temperment meter installments “Today Arods Achilles = sad.” Lives 4 it, Wait till he’s really retired n watch em come clawing back 4sum self importance and fight off fading irrelevance. #1 nfl popularity horror.
If Rodgers QBs skill were on the same level as Danica’s NASCAR driving skills, he probably never would have made it beyond an NFL practice squad.
Did he really test his Achilles? And is he really going to be in game shape in under 3 weeks? And even if he is, is it any sort of good idea for the Jets to let him play?
I have my “Discount Double Doubts”.
Hahaha
Lol. Not a good idea.
Let him come back behind that backup offensive line and get an even worse injury, just to talk about how he’s gonna come back from that to start next season on opening day and keep himself in the spotlight as a retired/unretired player.
It’s unreal how much radio attention he gets in NY. Both teams suck so there isn’t much to say but you’d think he had actually done something here.
4 SNAPS FROM A HOF QB OH MY GOSH THEY WON MORE THAN THE SUPERBOWL EVEN! Is how people act with Rodgers and he’s even worse than Favre was there. Favre sucked in NY, but playing and sucking is better than getting more attention than the team all season after playing just 4 snaps.
This is so stupid. They just can’t wait until he breaks permanently can they? This will only end in disaster
Career-ending aggravated injury in 3…2…1
Letting your aging QB who is coming off an Achilles injury, who is owed guaranteed money next year, play in week 15 when your team is 4-10 is such a Jets thing to do that I won’t be surprised when it happens.
I have 2 thoughts on this…
1. Severity of injury was overhyped from the start
2. Jets using this as a distraction from just how bad their offense is this season
From Hackett to Lazard to the injuries, the Rodgers and company have not worked out.
Most disturbing is the fact that Saleh seems to have all his future hope in a Rodgers return.
He ruptured his tendon. He split it in two. How can not be severe? Its arguably the worst injury anyone can have to their legs.
How about this instead….
Rodgers is an idiot who wants publicity and cannot handle sitting on the bench while everyone else plays?
That seems far more realistic.
Before I thought he was a fool and just ignorant, now I am very worried he will injure himself so badly he might not walk correctly again.
Why the Jets are allowing this is beyond me, but that is why they are the Jets…
The Jets need to be thinking about 2024, not 2023.
Finally, some news about Rodgers for the people who whine about Rodgers news to flock to, and complain that they are forced to click on the stories, read them, and then comment about it all. Not to mention the medical experts, conspiracy theorists, and those who complained when he didn’t participate in voluntary off-season workouts now complaining that he’s attempting to participate in actual regular season games.