Aaron Rodgers hints he could still return before the end of the season as the quarterback claims the Jets aren’t ‘mathematically out’ of the playoff race yet, despite losing five in a row

Aaron Rodgers has hinted he could return before the end of the season, as the quarterback claims the Jets (4-8) are not yet “mathematically” out of the playoff race despite losing five games at queue.

The 39-year-old one-time Super Bowl champion, who hopes to return this month from a torn Achilles injury suffered in September, admitted to Pat McAfee that the Jets have been through a “tough period” but the series of games against the Texans , Commanders, Browns and Patriots will be “fascinating.” The Jets are suffering the longest postseason drought in US history: 13 seasons (2010).

“It'll be interesting to see how our guys respond because we've had adversity, we've seen how our guys deal with adversity,” Rodgers added. ESPN. 'Who will end the season as a professional? Who's going to buy this thing, do it together and put a good ball on the line and be proud of their achievements?'

'Because I've been on a few teams where it's been tough lately. My first year in the league we were 4-12 and my first year when we started we lost five out of six.”

Rodgers – a four-time NFL MVP who has spent the past 19 seasons in the league – then warned his teammates about the consequences of ending the season with an overall negative record, while also rallying them.

Aaron Rodgers isn't ruling out the Jets making the playoffs despite the team's 5-8 record

Rodgers previously said 'anything is possible' regarding his comeback as he eyes a return in December

“I believed after we were 5-5,” Rodgers said. “So I've seen what it looks like in moments when things aren't going so well, and it really reveals the character in those unfavorable moments. So it will be interesting to see how the boys stick together as there will be a lot of interesting decisions in the future.”

The Jets have not yet decided who will start at quarterback against the Texans (7-5). Trevor Siemian could get the nod on Sunday after spending a full week with the starters. Or maybe Zach Wilson comes back off the bench. Probably not Tim Boyle, who has struggled in his two starts against the Falcons and Dolphins and has since been cut.

“I'm not there yet,” coach Robert Saleh said Monday when asked if he had decided on a starter.

Rodgers said last week that “anything is possible” when asked if he could possibly return this week or next.

“Well, I'm going with what he told you and that anything is possible,” Saleh said before chuckling. 'But don't hold your breath. How about that?'

In other words: no unprecedentedly fast returns this week.

The Jets could turn to veteran quarterback Trevor Siemian for Sunday's game against the Texans

The Jets have strongly denied that QB Zach Wilson does not want to start for the team again

Wilson, who started nine games after Rodgers was injured in the opener, is a possibility, especially given Boyle and Siemian's struggles in New York's 13-8 loss to Atlanta on Sunday.

The Athletics reported that Wilson expressed his reluctance to restart this season, something Saleh wholeheartedly rejected, as did Rodgers on the McAfee show on Tuesday.

“Let's be clear: If he didn't want to play, guys, he wouldn't be here,” the coach said. 'Actually, I just happened to have finished speaking to him. He came in about half an hour ago and we had a very good conversation.

'The young man wants the ball. He wants to start. He believes he's the best quarterback in the room and the best quarterback for this team and the guy who gives us the best chance to win, and I'll tell you the same thing I told him: I appreciate it. I appreciate the fact that he wants to play. I'm just not there yet.'

The Jets' most recent loss came on Sunday, December 3 against the Atlanta Falcons in a 13-8 loss

Saleh said the decision on who will start this week will include input from “everyone” — presumably meaning general manager Joe Douglas, offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett and passing game coordinator Todd Downing, among others.

“I want to make sure that no one behaves emotionally,” Saleh said. “I want to make sure we make the right decision for this organization and this team and make sure the guy who is best ready to play is on the football field.

“We're just trying to find a way to win a football game and whoever does that, I want to make sure we connect the dots and make the best decision possible.”

The Jets have scored fewer than two touchdowns on offense in eight straight games. They've also allowed just two total touchdowns on offense over the last five games.

Their third down conversion efficiency (23.1 percent) and red zone conversion rate (27 percent) are still on pace to be among the worst in recent NFL history.