- Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles tendon on opening night against the Buffalo Bills
- Rodgers appears to be the first to return from the injury in less than six months
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Aaron Rodgers’ path to a near-miraculous recovery from what was deemed a “season-ending” injury continues to make progress, according to a former rival.
On Monday, former Titans offensive tackle Taylor Lewan appeared on the Up & Adams show and revealed from a source that Rodgers, 39, plans to return early to play before 2024.
“I talked to someone the other day and they said he’s coming back in December,” Lewan told host Kay Adams. “That’s what I heard.”
While Lewan was impressed by the speculation, he had reservations about Rodgers’ health.
“If he comes out and plays, that’s one thing,” Lewan said of Rodgers. “If he plays and can stay healthy and be the Aaron Rodgers that we all know and love, we’re literally throwing out the medical book on everything.”
Weeks after the injury, Aaron Rodgers was seen walking and throwing without crutches
Rodgers suffered a torn Achilles tendon in his first quarter as a Jet while playing against the Buffalo Bills.
While Rodgers was written off for the rest of the season after opening night, he was filmed walking without crutches 20 days after the injury. Two weeks later, Rodgers threw the ball unassisted, further escalating talk of a “historic and unprecedented” return.
On October 3, Rodgers appeared on the Pat McAfee Show and discussed the unusual approach to his rehabilitation process.
“There’s nothing normal about the way I’m attacking this rehab,” Rodgers said. ‘It’s common for a boot to last six weeks, and I was in a boot in 13 days. Again, this is just my way of thinking.”
The Jets acquired Rodgers during the offseason before he tore his Achilles tendon on opening night
Historically, it takes at least six months for the Achilles tendon to fully heal. Making Rodgers’ three-month recovery possible, if successful, a historic achievement in sports medicine.
“What did you do, who did you talk to and that is now the spokesperson for all medical matters,” Lewan added.
The Jets are 4-3 with nine games remaining in 2023. Head coach Robert Saleh avoided speculating on the timetable for Rodgers’ return, but reiterated the quarterback’s enthusiasm to be back on the field.
“He’s on a mission,” Saleh told NBC Sports’ Peter King. ‘I won’t let anything pass him by. I heard he’s absolutely dominating the rehab and he really wants to come back this year.”