Against significant odds, it appears that Aaron Rodgers may complete his historic in-season recovery from a torn Achilles.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Jets quarterback is “likely to be medically cleared to play this week upcoming.”
That doesn’t necessarily mean that New York will throw Rodgers back under center for the team’s game against the Commanders on Dec. 24, but it represents another impressive step forward for the veteran signal caller. Schefter reports that the decision to play Rodgers may depend on whether the Jets are still mathematically alive to make the playoffs after this weekend’s game at the Dolphins.
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Rodgers tore his Achilles on the first drive of the Jets’ Week 1 game, his debut with the team. He vowed to attempt to come back from the injury—one that historically sidelines players for a full year—during the season if possible, after undergoing a “speed bridge” procedure, a new surgical process that could expedite recovery from the injury.
The team opened Rodgers’s 21-day window to return from the injured reserve on Nov. 29, and the quarterback has shown impressive progress in the weeks since. At Friday’s practice, Rodgers looked healthy enough to jump in at scout team linebacker, where he reportedly recorded an interception.
The team has until Wednesday to add Rodgers to the active roster. If they choose not to, he will be out for the remainder of the season.
While Rodgers has been optimistic about his return since the September injury, he has maintained that the team’s playoff hopes are key in making that decision, should he be in a position to return to the field. A win over the Dolphins on Sunday could be key to staying in the playoff hunt, as the Jets (5–8) are currently two games behind the Colts (8–6), who currently occupy the final AFC wild-card spot, in the loss column.
The Jets are on the road in Miami on Sunday. Zach Wilson is set to start for the team against the Dolphins.
