Jets beat reporter addresses possible return of Aaron Rodgers

It sounds like New York Jets beat reporter Brian Costello of the New York Post isn't buying the idea that quarterback Aaron Rodgers will return from the torn Achilles he suffered on Sept. 11 in time to play in the Week 16 home game against the Washington Commanders (4-9) on Christmas Eve. 

For a piece published Monday afternoon, Costello wrote that he thinks "it’s unlikely" that Rodgers will try to play before next summer even though the 40-year-old is practicing coming off his Week 1 injury. 

"The dropbacks I watched were all straight back," Costello said about what he saw from Rodgers during this past Friday’s practice. "He did not do any rollouts and you have to wonder if he can avoid the pass rush. We probably won’t see Rodgers back until 2024 but it is remarkable that we are even discussing it." 

TMZ Sports reported early Monday afternoon that Rodgers is "expected to be cleared medically for game action before Gang Green's Dec. 24 contest against the Commanders" and "will be given the all-clear before the Week 16 game against the NFC East team at MetLife Stadium in Jersey." Eric Edholm of the NFL's website mentioned on Nov. 30 that the Jets have until Dec. 20 to either activate Rodgers or shut him down for the remainder of the campaign. 

Rodgers accepted a pay cut this past summer to help the organization build around him through at least the 2024 season, and there's no indication the future Hall of Famer will retire this coming winter. While recently unbenched quarterback Zach Wilson guided New York to an impressive 30-6 home win over the Houston Texans on Sunday, the ESPN Football Power Index showed on Monday afternoon that the 5-8 Jets have only a 0.4% chance to make the playoffs. 

The Jets play at the 9-3 Miami Dolphins Sunday after Miami hosts the 4-8 Tennessee Titans on Monday night. 

"The Jets are not mathematically eliminated from the playoffs yet, but they do not have a realistic path to the postseason," Costello added. "It would be a bad organizational decision to put Rodgers at risk with nothing to play for." 

History shows that, for better or for worse, Rodgers probably will have the final say on if he plays against the Commanders on Dec. 24. It remains to be seen if he'll take a potential Week 16 return off the table if the Jets lose in Miami as many expect. 

On Monday afternoon, oddschecker listed the Jets as 11.5-point underdogs against the Dolphins.