Report: Aaron Rodgers likely to be medically cleared this coming week

Aaron Rodgers could be playing again as early as next Sunday. That’s according to ESPN. The report also was confirmed by the NFL Network.

ESPN, citing league sources, said Rodgers likely will be medically cleared this next week. However, Schefter cautioned that it doesn’t mean that star quarterback will be back in the lineup in time to play the Commanders on Christmas Eve.

Rodgers tore his Achilles on the fourth snap of the season opener at MetLife Stadium.

After recently being cleared to practice, New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers is likely to be medically cleared to play this week upcoming, league sources told ESPN.https://t.co/3xeoLRJSbB

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 17, 2023

Although Aaron Rodgers isn’t playing this Sunday, the outcome of the Jets-Dolphins could impact whether he plays in a week. That’s because Rodgers has said he doesn’t want to play unless the game is meaningful. There’s no need to risk further injury to his Achilles if there’s nothing on the line. So if the Jets are mathematically eliminated after Sunday, it’s unlikely Rodgers will play again in 2023. It’s very likely a Jets loss to the Dolphins would knock them out of wildcard contention.

Aaron Rodgers returned to practice, Nov. 29, after the jets opened the 21-day window on his IR stay. The team needs to make a decision on whether to move the quarterback to the active roster by this Wednesday. If they don’t do so, he’d stay on IR for the rest of the season.

It’s rare for a player to heal so quickly after an Achilles tear. Cam Akers, who was then a running back for the Rams, tore his Achilles during the 2021 season and still was able to return to play. Of course, Akers was only in his second season in the NFL. Conversely, Rodgers is the oldest quarterback in the NFL. He turned 40, Dec. 2.

Jets coach Robert Saleh paid the best compliment to describe his veteran quarterback earlier this week.

“He looks normal to me,” Saleh told reporters. “It’s unbelievable. Credit to him, especially in this day and age where a hangnail can affect a game week, but this dude is grinding to try to get himself back. It just shows how much he cares. I have an appreciation for him.”

The NFL Network reported that there are some within the Jets organization who don’t want Aaron Rodgers to play this season. He’s too valuable of an asset to risk aggravating the injury.

Rodgers had surgery in California and did most of his rebab there. But he’d still make it back for games to lend his team some moral support as well as mentoring Zach Wilson. With such high hopes to start the season, without Rodgers, the Jets have struggled to a 5-8 record.