New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been taking steps in an attempt to return to game action only about three months after tearing his Achilles.
Plenty of people have been skeptical that he can succeed in doing so, let alone play well afterward, especially given the 15 years of wear and tear he has accumulated as an NFL starter.
But Dr. Jesse Morse outlined how this could all be possible. First, as he said, Rodgers had an advanced procedure to repair the injured tendon, and second, he doesn’t need to be extremely mobile, but merely semi-mobile, and be able to plant the foot with the injured tendon.
Dr. Morse mentioned how Cam Akers was able to return after five months after having the same type of procedure from the same surgeon for the same injury. However, Akers is a running back, which obviously requires a lot more mobility and footwork than being a pocket-passing quarterback such as Rodgers does.
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Akers suffered the injury during training camp in the summer of 2021, and he was able to return toward the end of the regular season and help the Los Angeles Rams win the Super Bowl. Unfortunately, he recently suffered an injury to his other Achilles tendon and is currently on the injured list for the Minnesota Vikings.
Dr. Morse also expressed some concern because the Jets have such a weak offensive line. He said the risk isn’t so much that Rodgers’ repaired Achilles could tear again, but that it could possibly be stretched like a rubber band, which would require another surgery and another extended period of rehab.
New York is 4-8 after losing to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, and it has virtually no shot at making the playoffs. Thus, Rodgers making a return would be all about himself and his own narrative rather than helping his team.
Given all the circumstances, it is questionable whether it would be worth it for him to play again this season. However, if he does so successfully, it would be an inspiring story and possibly a model for other athletes who tear their Achilles to follow.
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