Insider reveals potential return date for Jets' Aaron Rodgers

Rumblings regarding injured quarterback Aaron Rodgers playing for the New York Jets before 2023 comes to an end are getting harder to ignore with each passing day. 

On Tuesday, WFAN radio personality Brandon Tierney reported that he was "told" that Rodgers is "targeting Dec. 24" as a return date. The Jets host the Washington Commanders for a Week 16 game on Christmas Eve. 

"That's the date he's circled in his mind," Tierney said about Rodgers. 

It's been thought for more than a month that Rodgers suffered a torn Achilles on Sept. 11 that would keep him out through the rest of this season. After the 39-year-old walked without crutches and tossed some passes at MetLife Stadium this past weekend, though, Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio revealed that "some in the medical community wonder" if Rodgers actually went down with "a partial tear" in Week 1. 

"There is no chance Rodgers fully ruptured his Achilles," Tierney posted on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter, on Monday. "No chance." 

NFL Network insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero, CBS Sports HQ injury expert Marty Jaramillo and others have explained how the "speed bridge" technique used to repair Rodgers' Achilles has allowed the four-time NFL Most Valuable Player to accelerate his recovery. Jaramillo predicted on Monday that Rodgers could potentially start for the Jets when they're at the Miami Dolphins in Week 15 on Dec. 17. 

Rodgers and Jets head coach Robert Saleh both declined during Tuesday media appearances to offer any specific timelines for when the signal-caller may take his next meaningful snap. According to Tierney, Rodgers may be more ahead of schedule in his recovery than he hinted coming off New York's 20-14 win over the Philadelphia Eagles this past Sunday. 

"I was told he's on the treadmill," Tierney said about Rodgers. "Walking on the treadmill...he's on the treadmill and in the pool every day. That's what I was told." 

The Jets entered their Week 7 bye at 3-3 and next face the lowly New York Giants (1-5) on Oct. 29. As long as the Jets stay in the playoff hunt, Rodgers playing again this season remains a possibility until further notice.