Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers walked into MetLife Stadium looking as comfortable as ever without the aid of crutches or a cart ahead of “Monday Night Football.”
New York arrived at the stadium for their primetime game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Rodgers, who tore his Achilles tendon just four times in his highly anticipated Jets debut in September, recently surprised fans after dropping back and throwing steps in their narrow victory over co-stadium rival New York Giants last Sunday.
The 39-year-old QB recently admitted that he was walking normally again, but that he still had a long way to go before he would be mobile enough to attempt to play.
Former Titans offensive tackle Taylor Lewan recently appeared on the Up & Adams show and claimed to have heard from a source that Rodgers planned to return to playing before 2024.
Jets QB Aaron Rodgers walked comfortably into MetLife Stadium under his own power
Rodgers surprisingly dropped back and made throws before the Jets game last Sunday
“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.”
Reports emerged after Rodgers underwent surgery on the injured Achilles tendon, stating he may be aiming for an unlikely return to the playoffs after undergoing a relatively new process involving the placement of an internal brace in his ankle, it has been revealed as a ‘speed bridge’.
The procedure was performed by renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who also operated on Kobe Bryant’s torn Achilles tendon in 2013 and saw the legendary Laker return to court within eight months.
While no specific timetables or guarantees have been given for Rodgers’ potential return to the field, it appears the groundbreaking surgery could indeed help the 10-time Pro Bowler recover much faster than he normally would after an Achilles tear.
He has been seen throwing a few passes down the field before recent Jets games, raising optimism that he could indeed return sooner than expected.
New York starts the game 4-3 and has a chance to significantly improve their playoff chances if they can secure a win against the 3-4 Chargers.
The Chargers enter Monday’s rankings of games as one of the worst defenses in the NFL and even without Rodgers, the Jets are sure to exploit La’s weakness, especially in the passing game.