The transaction officially opens up a 21-day window in which Rodgers can participate in practices while the Jets evaluate him for a return from IR. According to Rich Cimini of ESPN.com, Saleh noted that while Rodgers has been cleared for functional football activity, the veteran quarterback is not yet ready to take contact just over two and a half months after undergoing surgery to repair a torn left Achilles' tendon. Rodgers is thus slated to be a limited participant in practices, and he's uncertain to be activated from IR once the evaluation window closes in three weeks. In any case, Wednesday's move is at least another step forward in Rodgers potentially playing again this season, though the 39-year-old has suggested that any return will hinge on the 4-7 Jets remaining in playoff contention in the weeks to come.
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Status
IR-R - Achilles - Surgery Expected Return: 2023-12-24Latest Aaron Rodgers news
Passing
| Year | Team | GP | ATT | CMP | CMP% | YDS | AVG | TD | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | NYJ | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | GB | 17 | 542 | 350 | 65% | 3,695 | 7 | 26 | 12 |
| 2021 | GB | 16 | 531 | 366 | 69% | 4,115 | 8 | 37 | 4 |
| 2020 | GB | 16 | 526 | 372 | 71% | 4,299 | 8 | 48 | 5 |
Rushing
The transaction officially opens up a 21-day window in which Rodgers can participate in practices while the Jets evaluate him for a return from IR. According to Rich Cimini of ESPN.com, Saleh noted that while Rodgers has been cleared for functional football activity, the veteran quarterback is not yet ready to take contact just over two and a half months after undergoing surgery to repair a torn left Achilles' tendon. Rodgers is thus slated to be a limited participant in practices, and he's uncertain to be activated from IR once the evaluation window closes in three weeks. In any case, Wednesday's move is at least another step forward in Rodgers potentially playing again this season, though the 39-year-old has suggested that any return will hinge on the 4-7 Jets remaining in playoff contention in the weeks to come.
While going into detail about his rehab, Rodgers said that he's now back at the Jets' facility on a full-time basis and has resumed running on an anti-gravity treadmill. The veteran QB noted that his next step is to resume throwing to his teammates and going through the individual portions of practice, something that Ian Rapoport of NFL Network previously reported could happen as soon as this week. Before Rodgers is eligible to take part in individual work at practice, the Jets will have to designate him for return from IR, opening a 21-day window in which to evaluate him for a return to the 53-man roster. Since Rodgers would likely need the entire three weeks to get himself in position to play, he's believed to be targeting a return for the team's Christmas Eve matchup with the Commanders. However, the Jets have lost four games in a row and hold a 4-7 record, and if they continue to fade from playoff contention, Rodgers will likely turn his focus toward getting back to 100 percent in time for New York's offseason program.
The implication here is that Rodgers is pushing hard to come back, but he might be pushing too hard, too soon. In such a scenario, the doctors might be "saving Rodgers from himself."The Jets have already announced that Tim Boyle will start again in Week 13, and Rodgers is targeting Week 16 as a potential return.
Rodgers has said that his target for a return to game action is Dec. 24 against Washington, so if all goes according to plan, he could return to practice and have his 21-day window to be activated from injured reserve opened in early December. New York's quarterback situation in Rodgers' absence has grown even more dire following the benching of Zach Wilson in the team's Week 11 loss to Buffalo, which was the Jets' third consecutive defeat and dropped their record to 4-6. It's up to Tim Boyle to keep the Jets afloat and within striking distance until Rodgers is possibly healthy enough to return for a late-season playoff push.
A mid-December return would represent a three-month recovery from Achilles surgery -- nearly two months ahead of the fastest known return that any NFL player has made from a similar injury. Even if Rodgers ends up gaining clearance Week 16 or later, any return to action would presumably hinge on whether he can protect himself on the field, as well as where the Jets -- currently 4-5 heading into Sunday's game in Buffalo -- sit in the AFC playoff picture. For the time being, Zach Wilson remains the team's starting quarterback.
Per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, NBC's Melissa Stark said Sunday night that Rodgers' goal was to return from injured reserve in mid-December, but it appears the quarterback is taking things one step at a time. The four-time MVP suffered a torn Achilles in Week 1 against the Bills and was initially expected to miss his entire inaugural season with the Jets, but the team has been optimistic about a potential return if they could stay in the playoff hunt. After losing to the Raiders on Sunday Night Football, the Jets dropped to 4-5 and face a reeling Bills team on the road in Week 11.
As he's done before at least one other game since tearing his left Achilles in Week 1, Rodgers made at least a handful of tosses, only this time he was doing so after taking three-step drops, per Judy Battista of NFL Network. Rodgers also made some 50-yard throws, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN.com. During his weekly appearance on The Pat McAfee Show last Tuesday, Rodgers said that he hasn't started jogging yet, but he's able to walk without discomfort. There does seem to be a slight chance that Rodgers will be able to play again this season, but he's also admitted that the Jets need to be in the mix for the playoffs in order to return. In the meantime, Zach Wilson will continue to lead New York's offense.
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