New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been medically cleared to retake the field, but that does not mean he is actually going to play.
During his weekly appearance on The Pat McAfee Show on Tuesday, Rodgers said that he still does not feel 100 percent healed from his torn Achilles injury. He added that there would be a discussion about him returning if the Jets were in playoff contention, but they were eliminated with their loss to the Miami Dolphins this past weekend, so that door has closed.
Instead, Rodgers is choosing to focus on his future, and he does not think 2024 will be his final season.
“I don’t think so,” Rodgers said.. “I felt like when I came here that I got a renewed passion and love for the game. Everything has been amazing here. … I wanted at least two years. I feel like this year is kind of a lost year now that I only played a couple of snaps. Wasn’t able to go out there and prove what I’m capable of, what we’re capable of as a team. I don’t think next year will be my last year.”
New York initially acquired Rodgers in a blockbuster offseason trade with the Green Bay Packers and was immediately pegged a Super Bowl contender because of it.
However, Rodgers unfortunately tore his Achilles on the Jets’ first offensive series of the season, ending their championship hopes.
Rodgers—who is in the first season of a two-year deal with New York—said that he thinks Gang Green needs to “reload a little bit” but that he believes in the coaching staff and the front office.
“The night is always darkest before the dawn, and we’re gonna rise again and it’s going to be exciting,” Rodgers said.
Rodgers spent the first 18 years of his career with the Packers and was the club’s starting quarterback for 15 of them. During that time, he made 10 Pro Bowls, earned four First-Team All-Pro selections and won four MVP awards. Most importantly, he led Green Bay to a Super Bowl title during the 2010-11 campaign.
The Jets are just 5-9 this season, but with the right moves this coming offseason, they could find themselves in the driver’s seat in 2024—so long as Aaron Rodgers is healthy.
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