Jets' Aaron Rodgers contacted Vikings' Kirk Cousins about Achilles rehab

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers is attempting to return to the lineup this season from the torn Achilles he suffered on Sept. 11. He reached out to Kirk Cousins on Monday after the Minnesota Vikings signal-caller went down with the same injury this past weekend. 

"I have a lot of respect for him and just got to talk to him — hopefully, encourage him a little bit," Rodgers said during a Tuesday appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show" about his conversation with Cousins, per Rich Cimini of ESPN. "It sucks. It definitely sucks. He was playing really, really well. ... So I'm disappointed for him with that injury, but passed on all the information I could and let him know what's been working for me."

Rodgers tossed passes and dropped back on both feet this past Sunday ahead of the Jets' 13-10 overtime win over the New York Giants. The future Hall of Famer who turns 40 years old in December acknowledged Tuesday he's "ahead of schedule" in his recovery and wanted Cousins to have some inside information about how to attack the rehabilitation process. 

"Because my rehab's been great, because I feel so good, obviously people have been interested in what I'm doing, and I've just been passing along what's been working for me," Rodgers explained. 

Cousins was routinely linked in stories and rumors with the Jets after Rodgers suffered what was thought, at the time, to be a season-ending injury in Week 1. While Rodgers is on track to remain on New York's roster through at least next season, Cousins is out of contract at the end of the ongoing campaign. 

Rodgers pointed out Cousins may be more cautious regarding his recovery since the 35-year-old knows he's shut down through the rest of the NFL year. Meanwhile, Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio mentioned on Tuesday afternoon that Cousins staying with the Vikings beyond this season "remains a viable option" since Minnesota currently has no other proven quarterback signed to a long-term deal.