Jets' Aaron Rodgers reveals comeback plans for 2023 and beyond
As shared by ESPN's Rich Cimini, New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers hinted during his Tuesday appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show" that he won't push to return this season from the torn Achilles he suffered on Sept. 11 now that the 5-9 club is eliminated from postseason contention.
It was thought that Rodgers, who turned 40 years old on Dec. 2, could start this coming Sunday's home game against the 4-10 Washington Commanders if the Jets weren't mathematically eliminated. That was before New York suffered a humiliating 30-0 loss at the division-rival Miami Dolphins this past Sunday.
"I think the whole time, it’s been hoping that we’re still in it," Rodgers explained, per Ryan Chichester of Audacy. "...I do feel like in the next three to four weeks it would be very possible to get to 100 percent, but obviously not there."
The Jets still have until Wednesday to activate Rodgers or keep him on injured reserve through Week 18.
Perhaps the most interesting takeaway from Tuesday's segment is that Rodgers indicated he's committed to playing for the Jets beyond the 2024 season. The future Hall of Famer accepted a pay cut this past summer to help the organization build around him through at least the upcoming offseason.
"I felt like when I came here that I got a renewed passion and love for the game," Rodgers said about joining the Jets from the Green Bay Packers this past spring, according to Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk. "Everything has been amazing here. ...I wanted at least two years. I feel like this year is kind of a lost year now that I only played a couple of snaps. Wasn’t able to go out there and prove what I’m capable of, what we’re capable of as a team. I don’t think next year will be my last year."
Following the Jets' blowout loss at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium, multiple insiders suggested that team owner Woody Johnson could part ways with head coach Robert Saleh, general manager Joe Douglas and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett next month. Rodgers backed those three individuals on Tuesday afternoon:
ESPN stats show that the Rodgers-less Jets ended Week 15 ranked last in the NFL with an average of 255.1 offensive yards per game for the campaign. Gang Green is 30th with an average of 14.4 points scored per contest.
"It’s not a situation where we need to rebuild," Rodgers added about the current state of the Jets. "We need to reload a little bit…We have a lot of great young players."
Many in the NFL community assume Rodgers will have some say in what Johnson decides regarding the futures of Saleh, Douglas and Hackett. If Tuesday offered any kind of preview of what's to come, it sounds like the Jets will run it back next year with the key figures from 2023 still associated with the franchise even though Saleh has accumulated a woeful 16-32 record since 2021.
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