Why Jets' QB Aaron Rodgers Has a Slim Chance at a Return This Season

Aaron Rodgers - SIC score 41

Practice window now open but far from an actual full return to the field - running at 50% weight will be the next step in his recovery - if the Jets are in playoff contention in mid-December, the team may consider putting him on the active roster.

A key factor keeping this story relevant is that Rodgers plays the only position on the field that can stay stationary and be effective during a play.

If he does return, he will have next to no mobility and likely won’t be able to do more than simply drop back.

When the injury occurred, our panel of doctors were confident Rodgers would be able to return to football for the start of next season.

Dr. David Chao discussed the injury and his return timeline on the Pat McAfee Show.

Rodgers tore the Achilles tendon in his left lower leg during his Jets debut on Sept. 11. 

That puts him at two-and-a-half months of recovery for an injury that typically keeps athletes out a full year. He had surgery to repair the tendon using a 10-year old technique known as the Speed Bridge.

It does not speed up recovery as biology takes time to adapt to the graft. It does allow for a quicker and more aggressive rehab technique that has allowed him to make better than average progress to this point.