Why Jets must think twice before rushing back Aaron Rodgers

The New York Jets have a problem at quarterback. Aaron Rodgers, however, might not be the solution yet.

With each passing week, Rodgers remains sidelined as he recovers from an Achilles tear, the hype and anticipation for his return grows. The four-time MVP walked into the locker room without the help of crutches. A week later, he threw the football 50 yards in pregame warmups.

When it comes to his potential comeback this season, Rodgers has not been shy about adding fuel to the fire. The 39-year-old told Chargers safety Derwin James on "Monday Night Football" that he plans on playing in "a few weeks." He backtracked the next day on "The Pat McAfee Show," stating, "It'll be a few fortnights."

For the Jets, Rodgers' return can't come soon enough. New York's offense has failed its elite defense in winnable games, with OC Nathaniel Hackett's group ranking at the bottom of the NFL in nearly every offensive metric. 

Zach Wilson has shown why he was demoted to a backup quarterback in the offseason, ranking 30th in passer rating (75.4), 31st in completion percentage (59.9) and 31st in QBR (32.3).

While the Jets are certainly in need of a jolt on offense, New York should think twice before asking Rodgers to provide the spark.

The offense is not a star quarterback away from becoming a top-tier group. New York's injury-riddled offensive line has surrendered 32 sacks, third most in the league, per StatMuse. Its wide receiver corps is nothing special, with Garrett Wilson the only reliable target and Rodgers' longtime teammates Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb severely underperforming. 

Though Wilson has played poorly at quarterback, the blame for the offense's ineptitude does not fall squarely on his shoulders.

"It's lazy to just put it all on him," HC Robert Saleh said of Wilson after the Jets' 27-6 loss to the Chargers. "He has a lot of things that he needs to improve on and I know he understands that, but at the same time, this is collective."

Asking Rodgers — who will turn 40 in December — to fix an all-around broken offense is a recipe for disaster. While the future Hall of Famer has said he wants to play several more years in New York, that plan will likely change if he were to suffer another injury or setback. Behind the current O-line, he'd likely be running all over on most pass plays.

Even if New York is sniffing the playoffs come late December, they must weigh the benefits and risks of playing a franchise quarterback who's not 100% healthy.