Although Aaron Rodgers is still rehabbing from his Achilles injury, the Jets’ quarterback has begun taking part in new “flight school’” drills to re-acclimate himself to football in his recovery.
During his routine Tuesday appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, Rodgers described the drills as “seven-on-seven competition” with players from the practice team before practice ends.
“It’s called the flight squad, flight school,” Rodgers said. “The B-squad guys getting some extra work at the end and I just ask can I take some of those reps.”
While Rodgers has enjoyed the additional drills, he said there are still some things he must improve before taking the field for a game, despite reports saying the 40-year-old could be cleared around Christmas.
“I’m getting better, improving. There's still some things that I have to do to be cleared,” Rodgers said. “I’m not sure where that report's coming from, there’s been a lot of interesting reporting of our team lately.”
"I'm not sure where that reports coming from & there's been a lot of interesting reporting of our team lately..
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) December 12, 2023
I'm getting better but there's still some things that I have to do to be cleared..
I've done some limited practice & 7 on 7 the last few weeks" ~ @AaronRodgers12 pic.twitter.com/7q3JSX121l
Rodgers returned to practice on Nov. 29, less than three months after the devastating injury. Initially, Rodgers was seeking to return in the ’23 season. However, later into the season, the four-time MVP stated he would likely not rejoin the team if the franchise was not in playoff contention.
On Dec. 3, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport confirmed Rodgers’s statement of likely not returning until ’24 if New York is eliminated from the postseason race. As of Sunday, the Jets (5-8) are third-from-last in the AFC standings after defeating the Texans, 30-6, on Sunday and snapping a five-game losing streak.
Rodgers’s potential return for the Jets was expected to be before the team’s Christmas Eve matchup against the Commanders. However, if the Jets plan to have Rodgers, he must be activated by Dec. 20.