It’s time the Jets to step in and save Aaron Rodgers from himself
The recovery process and timetable of New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers following an Achilles tear in the team’s season opener on Sept. 11 has been nothing short of remarkable.
A little over three months after having a “speed-bridge” procedure done to expedite his recovery, Rodgers was recently cleared to return to practice, and it’s expected that he will be cleared to return to play as early as this week against the Washington Commanders on Christmas Eve.
“Rodgers has wanted very badly to be on the field,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said during Monday’s episode of “The Insiders.” “And I would have expected him to make a loud, strong case for himself to play on Christmas Eve, just like he wanted, against the Commanders to try to get the Jets to that playoff push.”
Rodgers’ possible return made sense a few weeks ago when the Jets still had an outside shot of making the playoffs. But New York has lost six of its last seven games, punctuated by a 30-0 defeat to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, and there’s nothing Rodgers can accomplish by playing in any of the last three games of the season.
This is why if the 40-year-old QB tries to bully his way into the starting lineup at any point this year, the Jets front office may have to step in and overrule him.
Given what the Jets invested in Rodgers during the offseason to acquire him (a 2023 second- and 2024 first-round pick), it would be downright reckless of the organization to let him step on the field at any point before training camp next season.
While the Jets aren’t exactly known for routinely getting things right, it appears as if they know what the right call is this time.
“I’ve talked to several very high-ranking members of the Jets organization who do not want Aaron Rodgers on the field unless they absolutely, really have to,” Rapoport added. “If there’s nothing to play for right now — they’re not in the playoffs — they don’t want him on the field. They do not want to risk 2024, they don’t want to risk a re-tear, none of that.”
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