Rodgers brought the Packers playbook from 2019-21 and a bunch of his old teammates with him to New York, but it's his health and a deep receiving corps that matter the most. Renewed with a fresh start and a coaching staff that will probably let him throw as much as he wants (they let below-average quarterbacks do it in 2022), Rodgers has potential to rebound to over 24 Fantasy points per game like he did in 2020 and 2021. And if it's not enough that Rodgers will have his say in the offense, he'll throw to dynamic second-year receiver Garrett Wilson while working behind a deep offensive line. Rodgers turns 40 in December and his schedule is projected to be very difficult. Those are drawbacks, but that's why Rodgers will be picked closer to the 12th QB off the board rather than the sixth, which merely makes him a spectacular low-risk gamble starting in Round 10 in one-QB leagues.
Jets' Aaron Rodgers: Return this season still unlikely
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Rodgers remains unlikely to play again this season, despite experiencing no setbacks with his surgically repaired Achilles' tendon during his return to practice this past week, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Rodgers' ability to get back on the practice field just 77 days after undergoing Achilles surgery Sept. 13 was already unprecedented for any player attempting to return from a similar injury, but since he's still facing significant limitations and isn't close to 100 percent healthy, the expectation remains that he'll be sidelined for the rest of the season, especially if the 4-7 Jets continue to fade from the playoff picture. The Jets will have until Dec. 20 to formally activate Rodgers or keep him on IR for the rest of the season, and even if the team's playoff standing hasn't improved by that point, Rapoport suggests that New York could still keep the 40-year-old on the 53-man roster as an emergency third quarterback. In such a scenario, Rodgers would continue to remain inactive on game days, though having him on the roster would help him stay connected and more involved with the Jets. While Rodgers remains on IR for now, however, the Jets will go with Tim Boyle as their starting quarterback for the second straight game Sunday against the Falcons, with Trevor Siemian and Zach Wilson on hand as the Nos. 2 and 3 signal-callers, respectively.
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Jets' Aaron Rodgers: Officially out this week
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Rodgers (Achilles) was ruled out Friday for Sunday's game against the Falcons.
The 40-year-old is said to be targeting a return Week 16 against Washington, though he's made it clear he won't come back this season unless the Jets have a chance to make the playoffs. Rodgers was limited in practice Wednesday and Friday, sandwiched around a Thursday absence, with Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reporting that the QB intends to intensify his regimen next week. Rodgers plans to practice on consecutive days next week and hasn't ruled out returning to games before the reported Week 16 target date. In the meantime, Tim Boyle and company need to beat the Falcons this Sunday to keep any realistic hope alive for a playoff berth and a Rodgers return.
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Jets' Aaron Rodgers: Back to limited practice Friday
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Rodgers (Achilles) will be a limited participant in practice Friday, Eric Allen of the Jets' official site reports.
According to Allen, Rodgers is alternating practices and days off as part of his rehab schedule. Rodgers had his 21-day window to return from IR opened Wednesday, but he's unlikely to be activated until the end of that window, if at all. Per Rich Cimini of ESPN.com, Rodgers plans to increase his practice regimen next week in hopes of moving up his return timeline, though Rodgers also said Thursday that "I don't think it would make a ton of sense" to play in a game with no playoff implications, so the 4-7 Jets would likely have to string some wins together and remain in the playoff hunt for Rodgers to have a chance at suiting up for the team again in 2023.
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Jets' Aaron Rodgers: Limited in return to practice
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Rodgers (Achilles) was a limited participant Wednesday in his return to practice and remains hopeful to make his return to game action Week 16 against the Commanders on Dec. 24, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.
The Jets designated Rodgers for return from injured reserve earlier Wednesday, opening a 21-day window that he can be added back to the roster before defaulting back to the IR for the rest of the season. Both outcomes remain possible at this point, with Rodgers having noted multiple times that his return would depend on both his health and the Jets having a shot to make the playoffs. He's been cleared for "functional football activity" but not contact, and his return to practice Wednesday didn't include participation in 11-on-11 drills. The Week 16 contest Rodgers is targeting will be played three and a half months after his injury, which would make him the first NFL player to suit up for a game less than five months after suffering an Achilles' tendon tear.
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Jets' Aaron Rodgers: Returning to practice Wednesday
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Jets head coach Robert Saleh announced announced Wednesday that Rodgers (Achilles) has been designated for return from injured reserve.
The transaction officially opens up a 21-day window in which Rodgers can participate in practices while the Jets evaluate him for a return from IR. According to Rich Cimini of ESPN.com, Saleh noted that while Rodgers has been cleared for functional football activity, the veteran quarterback is not yet ready to take contact just over two and a half months after undergoing surgery to repair a torn left Achilles' tendon. Rodgers is thus slated to be a limited participant in practices, and he's uncertain to be activated from IR once the evaluation window closes in three weeks. In any case, Wednesday's move is at least another step forward in Rodgers potentially playing again this season, though the 39-year-old has suggested that any return will hinge on the 4-7 Jets remaining in playoff contention in the weeks to come.
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Jets' Aaron Rodgers: Still eyeing '23 return
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Rodgers (Achilles) said Tuesday during his weekly appearance on The Pat McAfee Show that he's "not at an ability to play at this point" but noted that he's still not ruling out a return to game action in 2023 so long as the Jets remain in playoff contention, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.
While going into detail about his rehab, Rodgers said that he's now back at the Jets' facility on a full-time basis and has resumed running on an anti-gravity treadmill. The veteran QB noted that his next step is to resume throwing to his teammates and going through the individual portions of practice, something that Ian Rapoport of NFL Network previously reported could happen as soon as this week. Before Rodgers is eligible to take part in individual work at practice, the Jets will have to designate him for return from IR, opening a 21-day window in which to evaluate him for a return to the 53-man roster. Since Rodgers would likely need the entire three weeks to get himself in position to play, he's believed to be targeting a return for the team's Christmas Eve matchup with the Commanders. However, the Jets have lost four games in a row and hold a 4-7 record, and if they continue to fade from playoff contention, Rodgers will likely turn his focus toward getting back to 100 percent in time for New York's offseason program.
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Jets' Aaron Rodgers: Hoping to practice early December
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Rodgers (Achilles) said Tuesday on "The Pat McAfee Show that he's aiming to return to practice before his 40th birthday on Dec. 2, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported over the weekend that Rodgers was targeting the Jets' Dec. 24 against Washington in Week 16 for his return to game action, so Dec. 2 would seemingly represent his target date for being designated for return from injured reserve. The Jets' quarterback situation during Rodgers' absence has grown even more dire following the benching of Zach Wilson in the team's Week 11 loss to Buffalo, with the loss dropping the team's record to 4-6. With Wilson having since been dropped to third on the depth chart, the Jets will turn to Tim Boyle as their new starter with the hope that he can keep the team's playoff hopes afloat on the remote chance that Rodgers is possibly healthy enough to return for a late-season playoff push. If Rodgers -- who recently resumed jogging on an anti-gravity treadmill -- is improbably cleared to play Week 16, it would represent a remarkable three-and-a-half-month recovery from Achilles surgery.
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Jets' Aaron Rodgers: Eyeing Week 16 return
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Rodgers (Achilles) is reportedly eyeing a potential return in mid-December, with the Jets' Week 16 game against the Commanders being a possible target, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
A mid-December return would represent a three-month recovery from Achilles surgery -- nearly two months ahead of the fastest known return that any NFL player has made from a similar injury. Even if Rodgers ends up gaining clearance Week 16 or later, any return to action would presumably hinge on whether he can protect himself on the field, as well as where the Jets -- currently 4-5 heading into Sunday's game in Buffalo -- sit in the AFC playoff picture. For the time being, Zach Wilson remains the team's starting quarterback.
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Jets' Aaron Rodgers: No timeline for return
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Rodgers (Achilles) said Tuesday on the Pat McAfee Show that he expects to return later in the season, but he's not targeting a specific date, Al Iannazzone of Newsday reports.
Per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, NBC's Melissa Stark reported Sunday night that Rodgers had mentioned a possible mid-December return, but it appears the quarterback is taking things one step at a time. The four-time MVP suffered a torn Achilles in Week 1 against the Bills and was initially expected to miss his entire inaugural season with the Jets, but the team has stayed optimistic Rodgers might get back onto the field this season if it could stay in the playoff hunt. The Jets dropped to 4-5 after losing to the Raiders on Sunday night, but they face a reeling Bills team on the road in Week 11.
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Jets' Aaron Rodgers: Throwing again Monday
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Rodgers (Achilles) was spotted throwing prior to Monday's game against the Chargers.
As he's done before, Rodgers made a handful of pre-game tosses, only this time he was doing so after taking three-step drops, per Judy Battista of NFL Network. Rodgers also made some 50-yard throws, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN.com. During his weekly appearance on The Pat McAfee Show last Tuesday, Rodgers said that he hasn't started jogging yet, but he's able to walk without discomfort as he continues to push ahead of schedule in his recovery from Achilles surgery. There does seem to be a slight chance that Rodgers will be able to play again this season, but he's also admitted that the Jets need to be in the mix for the playoffs for a 2023 return to make sense. In the meantime, Zach Wilson will continue to lead New York's offense.
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Jets' Aaron Rodgers: Sights set on return this season
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Rodgers (Achilles) said Tuesday in his appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show" that he's "well ahead of the normal protocols" and remains optimistic that he'll be able to return to action before the conclusion of the 2023 season, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports. "There's nothing normal about how I'm attacking this rehab," Rodgers said. "The common practice is about six weeks in a boot, and I was in a shoe in 13 days."
In addition to recovering from the surgery he underwent three weeks ago on his ruptured left Achilles' tendon, Rodgers disclosed Tuesday that he's also dealing with a deltoid issue, which he presumably sustained when he injured the Achilles just four snaps into his Jets debut in the Week 1 win over the Bills. Rodgers is wearing a brace to protect the deltoid, but he otherwise looks to already be making strong progress in his recovery from Achilles surgery, as Cimini notes that the quarterback was "walking briskly" with the aid of crutches prior to this past Sunday's loss to the Chiefs. Rodgers will move his rehab to California for the next two weeks before rejoining the Jets following their Week 7 bye, but the 39-year-old is still facing an uphill battle to play again this season, even if New York qualifies for the playoffs and makes a deep run. A typical recovery from an Achilles' tendon tear is 6-to-9 months, and while Rodgers is optimistic he'll be able to beat that timeline, even a four-month recovery would keep him out until mid-January.
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Jets' Aaron Rodgers: Hopeful for postseason return
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Rodgers is targeting a return to action during the playoffs after undergoing an innovative surgery Wednesday in Los Angeles to repair his torn left Achilles' tendon, Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network report.
Achilles tears have historically been season-ending injuries, with Rams running back Cam Akers -- who needed just under five months to recover from surgery in 2021 -- having thus far staged the fastest-known recovery from the injury. Rodgers is hopeful to match or beat that five-month recovery timeline, which would fall just under a week before Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas. According to the report, Rodgers and the Jets are optimistic that he'll be in store for an accelerated rehab after his surgery included a procedure to place an internal bridge or "speed bridge" into the ruptured Achilles. The speed bridge is designed to better protect the repaired tendon and open the door for a return from surgery in as little as four months, though there are no guarantees, given that the procedure is a relatively novel one. In addition, Rodgers is expected to receive platelet-rich plasma injections to aid in accelerating the healing process. In a best-case scenario, Rodgers could be ready to play by mid-January, but that probably isn't an outcome the Jets are banking on, even if they claim a playoff spot.
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Jets' Aaron Rodgers: Aiming to return in 2024
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Rodgers (Achilles) implied Friday during his appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show" that he intends to return to the field for the Jets in 2024, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. "Give me the doubts...give me the things that you think can should or will happen. All I need is that one little extra percent of inspiration. That's all I need," Rodgers said.
Before the Jets acquired him from the Packers in April, Rodgers famously took his time earlier in the offseason to decide whether he wanted to continue his playing career in 2023. Rodgers ultimately opted against retirement in order to play a 19th NFL season, only for it to end after just four snaps Monday, when he suffered a torn Achilles' tendon in his Jets debut in the team's 22-16 overtime win over the Bills. Per Rapoport, Rodgers told McAfee that he experienced "a lot of sadness, a lot of tears" as a result of the significant injury, but he had surgery Wednesday and now appears to be committed to attacking his rehab with the intention of being ready for the 2024 season. Though he'll turn 40 years old in December and will be working his way back from major surgery, Rodgers seems optimistic that he's capable of returning to top form.
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Jets' Aaron Rodgers: Heads to injured reserve
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The Jets officially placed Rodgers (Achilles) on injured reserve Tuesday.
This comes as no surprise after an MRI confirmed that Rodgers sustained a torn left Achilles in Monday's overtime win against the Bills. He'll miss the rest of his first season with the Jets, handing off the offense to third-year pro Zach Wilson. Considering his age (39), there will be questions about whether Rodgers is willing to go through an arduous rehab to return for a 20th NFL campaign in 2024.
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Jets' Aaron Rodgers: Likely has Achilles injury
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The Jets believe that Rodgers suffered an Achilles injury during Monday's 22-16 overtime win against the Bills, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Rodgers got injured on the Jets' fourth offensive play and needed assistance reaching the sidelines before being carted to the locker room. X-rays came back negative, but the 39-year-old quarterback was seen wearing a walking boot on his left foot. When combined with the fact coach Robert Saleh called Zach Wilson the team's starting quarterback the rest of the season, per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, Tuesday's MRI likely will confirm the worst for Rodgers.
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Jets' Aaron Rodgers: Seen in walking boot
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Rodgers (ankle) underwent X-rays on Monday and was subsequently seen wearing a walking boot as he made his way to the locker room, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
Rodgers was able to limp off the field with an ankle injury before getting carted to the locker room. There is no word on the result of the X-rays, but him being in a walking boot does not bode well for his chances to return. Still, the team is labeling him as questionable to return.
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Jets' Aaron Rodgers: Questionable to return
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Rodgers is considered questionable to return to Monday's game against the Bills due to an ankle injury.
Rodgers took a sack on the Jets' opening drive and subsequently limped off the field to the medical tent. From there, he was carted to the locker room. There is no word on the severity of the issue other than he is questionable to return. Zach Wilson replaced Rodgers under center.
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Jets' Aaron Rodgers: Heads to medical tent
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Rodgers left Monday's season opening game against the Bills early after suffering an undisclosed injury, Connor Hughes of SNY.tv reports.
Rodgers limped off the field after taking a sack and headed to the medical tent. There is no word on the specific injury or the severity at this time. Zach Wilson replaced Rodgers under center.
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Jets' Aaron Rodgers: QB Bust Alerts
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Rodgers can certainly have a magical moment Monday night at home in his first game with the Jets, and I would start him in Superflex and two-quarterback leagues. But I don't love this first matchup against the Bills. Rodgers has faced Buffalo's defense twice under Sean McDermott, and Rodgers scored 17.0 Fantasy points in 2018 and 19.2 Fantasy points in Week 8 last year when Rodgers was in Green Bay. I can see a similar stat line for Rodgers this week, and the Bills should be able to keep him in check.
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Jets' Aaron Rodgers: QBs to Sit
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Rodgers can certainly have a magical moment Monday night at home in his first game with the Jets, and I would start him in Superflex and two-quarterback leagues. But I don't love this first matchup against the Bills. Rodgers has faced Buffalo's defense twice under Sean McDermott, and Rodgers scored 17.0 Fantasy points in 2018 and 19.2 Fantasy points in Week 8 last year when Rodgers was in Green Bay. I can see a similar stat line for Rodgers this week, and the Bills should be able to keep him in check.
