New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Aaron Rodgers hints he could make his return after Thanksgiving

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 11/14/23

The New York Jets have a divisional matchup with the Miami Dolphins on Nov. 24 — a game that quarterback Aaron Rodgers just may be playing in.

During a Tuesday appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Rodgers suggested he could return even earlier than the mid-December target date he gave NBC sideline reporter Melissa Stark during New York’s 16-12 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders on “Sunday Night Football.”

“I’m going to be back (with the team) full-time real soon,” Rodgers said. “That’s always been the plan. The plan has been once we got to Thanksgiving was to be back there full time.”

"I'm gonna be back with the Jets full time real soon..

The plan has always been to be back full time right around Thanksgiving" @AaronRodgers12 #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/2PnQSKutjH
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) November 14, 2023

Rodgers told Stark that he has been using an anti-gravity treadmill to limit the amount of pressure on his legs and feet while jogging. He had been working out at 50% of his body weight, but he plans to up that to 75% this week.

The 39-year-old QB is less than two months removed from surgery to repair his ruptured Achilles. He had a “speed bridge” procedure done to help expedite the recovery process and rehabilitation time.

The typical recovery time for an Achilles tear is four to six months, of which Rodgers is well ahead of. He’s been on the sidelines of Jets games the last few weeks throwing passes and moving around without any braces or boots, and he’s been off crutches for a few weeks.

In Rodgers’ absence, the Jets have pieced together a 4-5 record with wins over the Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos, Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants. The team has lost its last two games but is still on the playoff bubble (along with the Bengals, Bills, Raiders, Colts and Chargers), just one game behind the No. 7 seed Houston Texans.

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