New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers is likely to be medically cleared to play against the Washington Commanders next weekend, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.
Of course, this does not necessarily mean that Rodgers will take the field on Christmas Eve. It merely means that doctors have ruled him physically fit to play.
The Jets acquired Rodgers in a blockbuster trade with the Green Bay Packers back in the spring and were expected to contend for a Super Bowl because of it. However, Rodgers tore his Achilles on New York’s first offensive series of the season, ending the Jets’ championship hopes.
Naturally, everyone assumed Rodgers would be sidelined for the remainder of 2023, but throughout his recovery, the future Hall-of-Famer refused to rule out a comeback.
Typically, severe Achilles injuries knock athletes out for almost a full year, so the fact that Rodgers may actually end up returning to the gridiron within a few months would be absolutely unprecedented.
Rodgers has said that he will not be 100 percent until the offseason but has added that he would be willing to play this year if New York is in the playoff race.
The thing is, the Jets aren’t really in the postseason picture anymore.
At one point earlier this season, it was looking like Gang Green might end up hanging around, as they reeled off three straight wins after a 1-3 start to get to 4-3. However, the Jets proceeded to lose five games in a row. They snapped their losing skid last weekend with a stunning 30-6 win over the Houston Texans, but nevertheless, New York is still just 5-8 with four games left to play.
So, while the Jets have not been mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, the chances of them making it to the postseason are very slim at this juncture.
How that affects Aaron Rodgers’ decision remains to be seen.
New York will battle the Miami Dolphins this Sunday before taking on the Commanders next weekend. The Jets will then face the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots to wrap up the regular season.
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