New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers is attempting something unprecedented in the history of sports. After suffering what was believed to be a season-ending Achilles injury in Week 1 against the Buffalo Bills, he is attempting to come back this season.
The practice window for Rodgers was opened up this week, meaning he has 21 days to be activated. If he is not activated before the 21-day window, he will revert to the season-ending injured reserve, putting any chance of returning to the field in 2023 to bed,
The Jets, whose playoff hopes are hanging on by a thread, would certainly love to have Rodgers back in the mix. He cannot possibly play any worse than the options they have turned to in his absence as Zach Wilson and Tim Boyle have both been disastrous under center.
NFL News & Rumors: Aaron Rodgers, Emmanuel Acho, New York Jets Updates
At 4-7 and on a four-game losing streak, it is fair to wonder just what Rodgers would be returning to. A loss to the Atlanta Falcons this week would all but crush their playoff hopes, as eight losses could ultimately eliminate them from Wild Card contention.
But, in the opinion of former NFL player turned analyst Emmanuel Acho, Rodgers isn’t returning to help the team win games. He wants to soothe his ego, as Aco believes he doesn’t love his teammates, he loves attention.
“I don’t think he loves his teammates, I think he loves attention. I think he has an insatiable appetite to hear about Aaron Rodgers,” Acho said on a recent segment of Speak on FS1.
NFL News & Rumors: Aaron Rodgers, Emmanuel Acho, New York Jets Updates
Acho isn’t alone in that line of thinking. Many people who believe that attempting to return is an ego thing for Rodgers, who wants to prove that he is above modern medicine and can achieve things outside of the ‘norm’ for recovery from injury.
Whatever the case may be, the Jets are walking a fine line. There is virtually zero reason for Rodgers to step back on the field this season given the current state of the team. This all feels like a bit of a publicity stunt to help the team remain relevant in what has amounted to a lost season.
Putting Rodgers on the field, behind this offensive line, would be organizational malpractice on the Jets’ part. If they want any chance of competing in 2024, they will save Rodgers from himself and keep him sidelined so that he is 100 percent healthy come next season.
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