It appears that Aaron Rodgers’ unlikely return to play with the New York Jets this season is now ruled out.
The 40-year-old quarterback said during his weekly appearance on The Pat McAfee Show Tuesday that he’s still not 100 percent recovered after undergoing surgery to repair a torn Achilles tendon in his left foot.
Rodgers added that if the Jets had triumphed last Sunday against the Dolphins in Miami and were still in the playoff race, then he would have “worked hard this week” to be ready to face the Washington Commanders Sunday. The Jets, however, were beaten 30-0 by the Dolphins and were thus excluded from the playoffs for a 13th consecutive year.
“If I was 100% today, then I would have done everything I could to play,” Rodgers said. But I’m not…I’ve done everything I can to try and get back into the game.”
Rodgers never made it clear that he ruled out the possibility of returning to play this season, but had implied that the prospect was very likely.
The Jets opened a 21-day practice window for Rodgers on Nov. 29 and have until Wednesday to remove his name from the long-term injured list. Otherwise, the quarterback’s name will have to remain on the injured list for the remainder of the campaign. Rodgers still had to get the green light from the doctors – it seemed possible until now – before we could see his return to play.
Rodgers tore his Achilles tendon on the fourth play on offense for the Jets in their season opener on September 11. He underwent surgery two days later and was attempting the earliest return to play in history for a professional athlete after suffering such an injury. It will be 14 weeks on Wednesday since Rodgers went under the knife – reportedly having a bridge implanted, a type of splint to reattach the Achilles tendon, in the hope of speeding up the healing process.
Rodgers added that he doesn’t believe this upcoming campaign will be his last in the NFL, adding that he always wanted to play two seasons with the Jets and this one “kind of fell through.”
“I think the future is very bright,” concluded Rodgers.