Aaron Rodgers may be medically cleared next week to return to play: Reports

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers may be medically cleared next week to return to playing in games, according to multiple reports. The Jets travel to the Miami Dolphins this week and host the Washington Commanders on Christmas Eve, which could be Rodgers’ targeted return.

New York, 5-8, sits in third place in the AFC East. It has less than a one percent chance of making the postseason, according to the New York Times’ playoff simulator.

Rodgers started Week 1 against the Buffalo Bills but tore his Achilles just four plays into the season. Zach Wilson, a 2021 first-round pick, started 10 games in his absence but was benched for veteran Tim Boyle in Week 11. After two rough outings for Boyle, he was waived, replaced by Wilson and New York signed Brett Rypien to the 53-man roster off the Seattle Seahawks’ practice squad.

Rodgers, a four-time NFL MVP and Super Bowl champion, must be taken off the injured reserve list by Wednesday to play against Washington.

How surprising is this?

The goal for Rodgers was always to come back for the Christmas Eve game against Washington, but even if he is cleared this week — which still is not guaranteed — that does not necessarily mean he’ll even play on Sunday. There are still steps between where he’s at now and him actually taking the field and playing in a game. Medically, a doctor would have to clear him to participate in 11-on-11 drills in practice, the next step in his on-field progression. So far, he’s only participated in 7-on-7, position drills and as a member of the “scout team” helping the active Jets prepare for their opponents. Rodgers also hasn’t been practicing on Wednesdays, instead rehabbing in the building, and he also hasn’t taken any hits since the initial injury either, though that wouldn’t happen in practice anyway.

“He pushed it a little bit yesterday,” Jets coach Robert Saleh said Friday. “He went under center and he’s running boots and jogging from drill to drill. I mean, it looks normal to me, but 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, and I have an appreciation for him.”

When Rodgers spoke to reporters a few weeks ago, he made it clear that it “wouldn’t make sense” for him to return if the Jets didn’t have anything left to play for. They might already be in that stage with their less-than-one percent chance of making the playoffs. Even if they beat the Dolphins in Miami on Sunday, that would still only get them to 1 percent.

Mathematically, they technically would have something to play for — but not realistically.