After suffering an Achilles tear on the fourth play of his debut with the New York Jets, Aaron Rodgers has been out for the season as Zach Wilson has come off the bench in his place.
Fans have been anxiously awaiting updates on the timeline of his return, and Rodgers may have just hinted at that in a recent Instagram post.
Aaron Rodgers Hints at Comeback
Rodgers reposted a photo of a green watch from the company he works with, Zenith, with the words, “A little more time …” prompting fans to wonder if this is him hinting at his comeback.
Some speculated that the date on the watch could correspond with his return, with several citing December 28 because of the 28 shown on the watch. Others said there was a 0% chance he was coming back this season.
Is @AaronRodgers12 aiming to return on 12/28 against the Browns?
Thursday Night Football… 🤔 pic.twitter.com/qQHbtlr5OK
— Kurt Benkert (@KurtBenkert) November 3, 2023
But most fans, like this one, are excited at the thought of a Rodgers return any time soon.
The comeback will be historic
— Will 🤘 (@JohnCarlsongang) November 3, 2023
Jets general manager Joe Douglas officially weighed in on Rodgers’ status a few days ago, telling reporters he is “expecting” the quarterback to return from the injury he suffered in Week 1.
He then clarified the statement, saying he expects Rodgers to be around the team, not necessarily returning to the field.
“We’re excited to see him progress through his rehab, and we’re taking everything day by day,” Douglas said. “Certainly, we’ll all be excited when he’s back in the fold, just as a person and the leader he is. I’m not a doctor, so I can’t go into the specifics on the rehab.”
Douglas said he has no timeline to give on when Rodgers will come back to the field, but it’s been good to have him around the team and in the building.
“Just to be able to see him do some of the things he’s been doing, again, it’s not surprising; I think we all know the competitor and the competitive makeup Aaron has,” Douglas said. “He has goals, and he’s going to chase those goals, and he’s going to put every ounce of effort into achieving those goals. Nothing surprises me when it comes to Aaron Rodgers.”
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Before the Jets’ matchup against the Giants last Sunday, Rodgers was seen throwing passes during warmups and dropping back to put some weight on his injured left leg.
Rodgers had surgery two days after the injury and reportedly had a “speed bridge” procedure that is designed to speed up the rehab process, which has already been apparent as he surprised fans several weeks ago when he threw passes on the field before the Jets’ win over the Philadelphia Eagles without the aid of crutches or a walking boot.
While the timeline for Rodgers’ return is still up in the air, the quarterback’s social media post points to optimism in regard to him returning to the field before the season is over.
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