- Rodgers suffered a torn Achilles tendon just four games into his debut with the New York Jets
- He could return as early as Week 16 if the team is still in playoff contention
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The New York Jets were impressed with a training video that injured quarterback Aaron Rodgers sent them this week and expect him to return to the facility permanently, according to Jay Glazer of Fox Sports.
‘[Rodgers] I’m actually going back to the Jets this week and working out with them,” Glazer said.
“He sent the Jets video this week of him working out, it kind of surprised them, ‘Man, he’s a little further along than we thought. In Aaron Rodgers’ mind, he tells the Jets, “I’d like to start practicing as early as December 2nd.”
Glazer’s mention of Rodgers returning to practice in early December appears to go hand-in-hand with NFL Networks’ Ian Rappaport’s report that Rodgers could return to the field as early as Week 16 if he can protect himself and the Jets. are still in play-off contention.
Jets head coach Robert Saleh recently stated that he would be open to putting Rodgers back in the lineup once the nearly 40-year-old QB said he was ready to play again.
Aaron Rodgers’ Latest Workout Video He Sent to the New York Jets Was ‘Baffling’
Rodgers suffered a torn left Achilles just four games into his New York Jets debut in Week 1
“Aaron is a big boy, a grown man,” Saleh said Wednesday. “No one will know Aaron’s body like Aaron knows his body.”
“And if he feels like, after all the doctors have cleared him, and I’m sure there’s a million of them, I have no idea, but if Aaron says he wants to play, he’s going to play,” Saleh continued.
Rodgers tore his Achilles tendon on his fourth offensive snap as a Jet during the team’s Week 1 win against the Buffalo Bills.
Shortly after Rodgers underwent surgery on the injured Achilles tendon, reports emerged stating that he would face an unlikely return to the playoffs after undergoing a relatively new process that involved the placement of an internal brace in his ankle, known as an ‘ 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 timetable or guarantees have been given for Rodgers’ potential return to the field, it appears the 10-time Pro Bowler could still recover much faster than normal after an Achilles tendon injury.
He’s been dropping back for several weeks now, making throws before Jets games
The 39-year-old QB has been shocking fans for weeks with his ability to drop back and complete passes during pre-game warmups with the team.
Former Titans offensive tackle Taylor Lewan recently appeared on the Up & Adams show and said he had also heard from a source that Rodgers planned 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.”
The team has relied on former No. 2 overall pick Zach Wilson since Rodgers was injured. Wilson’s passer rating of 74.6 is 30th in the NFL.