For the first time since suffering an Achilles tendon injury, New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers has firmly alluded to a potential return to the field.
In his weekly appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Rodgers addressed all the speculation that he’s going to miraculously return under-center THIS season.
“It’ll be a few fortnights,” Rodgers said, hinting more specifically at a likely six-week timeline…
"We're in a 8-12 week window where the tendon is really healing well..
There's a lot that of things that I have to do before I can get back on the football field"@AaronRodgers12 #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/IGODPraW1f
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) November 7, 2023
The speculation surrounding his return began to swirl after the Jets horrifically disappointing 27-6 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday night.
A postgame interaction between Rodgers and Chargers safety Derwin James was caught on camera, with Rodgers telling James that he aimed to return in “a few weeks.”
However, the quarterback later attempted to downplay his comment, emphasizing that it was a jest shared between friends represented by the same agency.
“Obviously, that was said with a little tongue-in-cheek there,” Rodgers clarified. “It’d be nice to be able to be back in a couple of weeks. That’s probably not anywhere near a realistic timeline.”
ARE WE BACK @AaronRodgers12..
"Throwing the football is my stress reliever and I was just having some fun pregame"#PMSLive pic.twitter.com/MzrZS2fPQg
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) November 7, 2023
Pressed further on the matter, Rodgers resorted to the term “fortnights,” elucidating that a potential six-week return would bring him back to action around Christmas week, coinciding with the Jets matchup against the Washington Commanders on Christmas Eve.
At 39 years old, Rodgers’ potential return from an Achilles injury within six weeks from now would be a virtual miracle.
Despite his persistence in expressing a desire to play this season, the final decision would depend on medical clearance and the approval of the Jets organization, highlighting the magnitude of the risk involved.
In discussing his recovery process, Rodgers disclosed the necessity of meeting specific benchmarks before considering a return to practice.
“We’re still a little ways off,” he stated. “I’ve got to hit markers, and I’ve got to get on the practice field. Then they have to open up the window for me to come back from it. So, there’s a lot that has to happen.”
Aaron Rodgers throwing like this is a BIG DEAL#PMSLive pic.twitter.com/AKsgiKSmwg
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) November 7, 2023
Emphasizing the critical stage of his recovery, Rodgers highlighted the risk of setbacks if he were to overexert himself, with the current phase being the critical healing period for the tendon.
While he has been able to move without crutches for about a month, he has not yet resumed jogging.
Additionally, Rodgers stressed the importance of the Jets playoff contention in his decision-making process.
With the team currently standing at 4-4, Rodgers underlined the necessity of both his physical readiness and the team’s competitive prospects before making any definitive plans for his return.
"I have a lot of faith in our guys and I feel like we're gonna be in the mix..
I'm feeling a lot more strength in the Achilles but we're a long way off from me being under center..
I like where I'm at though and I'm ahead of schedule" ~ @AaronRodgers12 #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/dPRuGitUeb
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) November 7, 2023
As long as Zach Wilson continues to take snaps, it’s unlikely Gang Green will remain in playoff contention much longer.
What do you think Rodgers is going to do?
Will he actually come back this season?
Has a 2023 return been an unrealistic goal all along?
With the whole conversation end up being meaningless since the Jets more than likely will fall out of the playoff race???