QB Aaron Rodgers of the Jets is expected back by Week 16: “Anything is conceivable.”
Opening a 21-day practice window for the three-time MVP on Wednesday, the Jets took the first step in that direction and may have prepared him for a season-long comeback to the field.
Less than four years after sustaining a torn Achilles during the Jets’ fourth offensive play of their Week 1 matchup with the Bills, Rodgers participated in limited practice on Wednesday. On Thursday, he didn’t practice.
Since then, Rodgers—who turns 40 on Saturday—has been placed on injured reserve. In an effort to avoid re-injury, the Jets have stated that they will cut down on Rodgers’ practice load. He is still not cleared for contact.
Now that Rodgers has been cleared resume “functional football activity” by team physicians and medical specialist, Neal ElAttrache, head coach Robert Saleh said there is no further risk in letting him practice.
Three months prior, Aaron Rodgers was seated in the middle of a lengthy table in a meeting room that overlooked the New York Jets’ practice fields. Both the weather and his mood were sunny back then.
The Jets still had optimism about their season back then, believing that it would be Rodgers who would ultimately bring a team out of the ashes and into the promised land.
Up until then, Rodgers referred to his time with the Jets as a better-than-dream waking dream.
In all actuality, the New York Jets’ 2023 season is finished. They are playing three consecutive matches against teams that are fighting for a postseason spot, are now ranked 11th out of 12 teams within the AFC wild-card bracket, and are horribly undermanned practically everywhere on offense.
The Jets would have to perform a miracle to avoid another loss at this point in the season, which would hand them eight defeats overall and eliminate any chance of making the playoffs.
And Aaron Rodgers acknowledged on Thursday that it was doubtful the team’s decision-makers would approve of his return the the field in that circumstance if there was no postseason left to play for.
Rodgers told reporters, “I don’t think that makes a ton of sense.” It would put me at risk if I returned this year before that four-month mark because it would indicate that I’m not fully recovered. I wouldn’t be shocked if the team approved it to return if we’re done with it.
Although Rodgers continued to say that “anything is possible,” he also acknowledged that he is far from being prepared to participate in a game.
That being said, his arrival is still a much-needed plus for the Jets, as it essentially starts the 2024 campaign and sets up a laser-like eight months leading up to training camp in July of the following year.
However, Jets general manager Joe Douglas must now find out how to address the significant offensive problems surrounding the soon-to-be 40-year-old quarterback rather than using that time, as he did last offseason, to pursue a trade for Rodgers.
On Wednesday, Aaron Rodgers, who had missed more than three months of practice due to an Achilles tear, rejoined the Jets.
The 39-year-old quarterback, who told reporters on Thursday that it’s “possible” he’ll return to game activity in the upcoming weeks, is continuing his remarkable recuperation journey.
However, he cautioned that New York must continue to be competitive in order to justify his comeback.