The New York Jets may have a more specific return date for Aaron Rodgers this season.
Rodgers is reportedly looking to return under center for the Jets in Week 16 against the Washington Chiefs, according to the NFL Network.
The caveat is that Rodgers will only return for New York if they remain in the AFC playoff hunt.
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New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers waves to fans before the Kansas City Chiefs game, Oct. 1, 2023, in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
The Jets enter Sunday 4-5 heading to Buffalo to face their AFC East rival Bills, who they beat in Week 1 when Rodgers tore his Achilles just four plays in his tenure with New York.
But Rodgers could be back on the field with his players very soon.
Rodgers hopes to return to practice as early as the beginning of next month, Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer said. He also noted that Rodgers will go back to the Jets this week to begin training with them.
“He sent the Jets video of him working out this week,” Glazer said in his report. “It blew their minds, like, ‘Man, it’s a little later than we thought.’ In Aaron Rodgers’ mind, he tells the Jets, ‘I’d like to start working as early as December 2.’ That’s only a few weeks from now.”
Rodgers underwent a procedure on his Achilles called “speed bridging,” which speeds up the recovery process and there are already signs that Rodgers is feeling good in his rehabilitation process.
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers participates in a drill at the team’s training facility in Florham Park, New Jersey, July 20, 2023. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Although he has not been training with the Jets full time in recent weeks, Rodgers has been present on the Jets sideline and has been throwing before the games. More importantly, he has been walking well, without boots or shoes.
Jets head coach Robert Saleh spoke earlier this week about Rodgers.
“Aaron is a big boy, a grown man, and nobody is going to know Aaron’s body like Aaron knows his body,” Saleh told reporters on Wednesday. “And if he ‘ feeling after everything cleared the doctors – I’m sure there are a million of them, I have no idea – but if Aaron says he wants to play, he’s going to play.
The Jets thought Rodgers’ season was over when he tore his Achilles, but his availability later this year couldn’t be more alive.
Aaron Rodgers participates in drills during New York Jets training camp at Atlantic Health Jets Training Center in New Jersey, July 22, 2023. (Vincent Carchietta-USA Today Sports)
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The Jets hope that with Zach Wilson leading the offense, they can stay in playoff contention until Rodgers gets back on the field when he’s good and ready.
