Could New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers seriously return this season after tearing his Achilles back in Week 1?
It would be an unprecedented comeback for such a severe injury, but more and more speculation is being fueled that Rodgers could ultimately get back on the field in 2023.
Rodgers made a cryptic Instagram post on Thursday, writing “A little more time…” alongside a photo of his new Zenith watch.
Is that Rodgers telling everyone that he only needs a little more time before returning?
Former Green Bay Packers quarterback Kurt Benkert seems to think so and has suggested on his X account that the Jets’ Week 17 matchup with the Cleveland Browns could be a target date. It’s a Thursday Night Football game, meaning it will be nationally televised.
Of course, even if Rodgers is legitimately thinking about coming back (which seems doubtful given the circumstances), a lot of that would surely depend on the Jets’ status later in the season.
Right now, New York has won three straight games to improve to 4-3 and is firmly entrenched in the AFC playoff picture. However, the Jets are in no way, shape or form a guaranteed playoff contender.
Gang Green did not exactly look smooth in its Week 8 win over the lowly New York Giants, and with the wildly inconsistent Zach Wilson under center, it’s hard to pin the Jets down and genuinely say that they look like a serious postseason club.
If the Jets do manage to hang around and remain in playoff contention until the back end of December, then maybe the Hollywood script will come to life: maybe Rodgers will return, and maybe he will push New York into the postseason.
However, there is still plenty of time left between now and then, and if the Jets go on some sort of losing skid over the next several weeks (which is entirely plausible), we can probably put to bed the whole narrative of Aaron Rodgers returning, as cool as it sounds.
The Jets will take on the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday night.
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