Current, former players talk recovery of Jets' Aaron Rodgers

Retired NFL quarterback Vinny Testaverde believes New York Jets signal-caller Aaron Rodgers somewhat dodged a bullet when he suffered a left Achilles tear rather than a torn right Achilles in Week 1 of the season. 

"The good thing is, it's not on his plant foot -- his back foot," Testaverde said about Rodgers during a conversation with Rich Cimini of ESPN. "He'll be able to drop back on his healthy leg, stick that right foot in the ground and push forward to step up into the pocket. If he's going to have a speedy recovery, that's going to help him tremendously to get back to feeling confident and playing."

Testaverde, a right-hander like Rodgers, experienced a similar noncontact injury early into the 1999 season but started every game across the following two campaigns. 

While it was reported this past Sunday evening that Rodgers wants to play again this season, Cimini wrote that it typically "takes three to four months for the tendon to heal completely" following the type of surgery the quarterback required before the patient can "ramp up his rehab." 

Rodgers, who turns 40 years old in December, went down on Sept. 11. Meanwhile, the 1-3 Jets end the regular season versus the New England Patriots on Jan. 7.

"His ability to throw the football is superior to just about everybody in the league," Testaverde added about Rodgers. "He's not going to lose that. Will he get sacked one or two more times next year? Maybe, because he can't avoid a sack or two. It's hard to predict. I just think he's going to do well." 

Current Jets defensive end Carl Lawson missed the entire 2021 season after he ruptured his Achilles in August of that year and suggested Rodgers may have an easier recovery than what a 265-pound pass-rusher would endure coming off such a setback. 

"Not saying [Rodgers] isn't an explosive athlete, but he's a quarterback," Lawson noted. "So I think his transition from the Achilles will be much smoother than mine was."

ESPN injury expert Stephania Bell told Cimini that "tissue tends to get more brittle and less resilient with age," meaning Rodgers may never return to the form he enjoyed as a four-time NFL Most Valuable Player before his injury. 

The future Hall of Famer accepted a massive pay cut this summer to pursue a Super Bowl title with the Jets through at least the 2024 season, but those associated with the 2023 edition of the club now hope that 2021 first-round draft pick Zach Wilson turns into a revelation coming off his solid performance in a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday night.