Aaron Rodgers designated to return from injured reserve for New York Jets

Jets coach Robert Saleh announced Wednesday that Aaron Rodgers could return from injured reserve within the next 21 days.

Saleh said that Rodgers will be back on the practice field today in a “limited” capacity. The move gives the Jets three weeks to make a decision on whether the quarterback should be activated and moved to the 53-man roster.

In a statement to the media, Aaron Rodgers said: “This entire time I’ve said what I’d like to do rehab-wise. Neal, my doctor Neal ElAttrache, did kind of a newer, innovative surgery. I asked him if we could push it, if we could push it beyond the normal protocols. I’ve just wanted to do things quicker, smart, but quicker. It’s just about being smart with the rehab and pushing it as much as I can and then backing off on the days that it doesn’t feel good.”

Coach Saleh says that QB Aaron Rodgers' 21-day practice window will open today pic.twitter.com/kZSW9HFC9k

— New York Jets (@nyjets) November 29, 2023

Obviously, this is a major step to getting the soon-to-be, 40-year-old quarterback back on the field. As most NFL fans know, Rodgers tore his left Achilles tendon on the fourth offensive snap of the Jets season opener against the Bills. He had surgery Sept. 14 in California to repair the rupture. He now can become the first player in league history to return to play in the same season in which he suffered an Achilles tear.

Aaron Rodgers on pace to play by Christmas Eve

The Jets detailed parts of the Aaron Rodgers timeline. He returned to the Jets headquarters in Florham Park, N.J. and then to MetLife Stadium at the Meadowlands for the week four game against the Chiefs. He needed crutches to move around. By week six, he was playing catch with some teammates in warmups. The Jets decribed this as a “gentle” game. By week nine, he was doing some relaxed, drop-back work in warmups.

The Jets have until Dec. 20 to make a decision on Rodgers. If he takes the full three weeks to get back into game shape, Rodgers first game back would be at home against the Commanders on Christmas Eve.

On Tuesday, Rodgers made his weekly appearance on The Pat McAfee Show. He discussed the parameters he’d use in deciding whether to come back this season.

“First, am I healthy? And then are we alive? Are we in it? Are we playing good enough to make a run?” Rodgers told McAfee. “Can I step in and protect myself and play at a level that I feel like I’m capable of playing? But the first part is, is the health. So can I protect myself? Can I move around the way I want to move around?

“There’s a natural progression here to the rehab,” Rodgers said. “And, you know, that’s going to involve actually getting back onto the field to start to do some things that are more football related. But again, … we’re not, we’re not where I can make a decision on playing because I’m just, health wise … I’m improving steadily. But I’m not in a not in a position to play at this point.”