Will New York Jets fans see Aaron Rodgers play again this season? The future Hall of Fame quarterback is inching ever closer to a return from the torn Achilles he suffered in Week 1, and Gang Green made a critical transaction regarding Rodgers’ availability on Wednesday.
The Jets officially designated Rodgers to return from injured reserve (IR) today, opening a three-week window during which he’ll either need to be placed on New York’s active roster or be forced to stick on the injured list for the rest of the season.
Jets Designate Aaron Rodgers To Return From IR
Rodgers has been ramping up his recovery process as he targets an unprecedented same-season return from an Achilles injury. While he recently threw cold water on a report that suggested he was trying to get back on the field by December, Rodgers will in fact return next month or not at all.
Still, it remains unclear whether the Jets intend to let Rodgers play again this year, especially if they continue to fall out of playoff contention.
“This isn’t so much getting ready to play as it is a progression in (Rodgers’) rehab,” head coach Robert Saleh said on Wednesday.
Rodgers has been cleared for “functional football activity,” per Saleh, but not to “fully play football.” By opening his practice window, the Jets are allowing Rodgers to work with other players instead of throwing to coaches on side fields. But his routine may not change all that much in the near term.
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Rodgers has indicated he will be less likely to come back in 2023 if New York is out of the postseason conversation. The Jets, who have had to rely on Zach Wilson and Tim Boyle under center with Rodgers sidelined, are 4-7 and have less than a 1% chance of making the playoffs, per the NY Times’ projection model.
New York also has to balance its willingness to let Rodgers play this year while preventing re-injury risk.
“Aaron is not going to do anything that puts himself in harm’s way,” Saleh said.
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