Aaron Rodgers will have the final call on whether he plays again this season for the New York Jets — if and when he gets medical clearance.
Coach Robert Saleh said Wednesday the team will defer to the four-time NFL MVP, who’s rehabilitating from a torn left Achilles tendon four snaps into his debut with the Jets on Sept. 11.
“Aaron’s a big boy, a grown man, and no one’s going to know Aaron’s body like Aaron knows his body,” Saleh said. “And if he feels, after all the doctors clear him — and I’m sure there’s a million of them, I have no idea on that stuff — but if Aaron says he wants to play, he’s going to play.”
In other words, the Jets won’t stand in the way of a healthy Rodgers returning when he’s ready.
Rodgers, who turns 40 on Dec. 2, has repeatedly said his goal is to return late this season. NBC’s Melissa Stark reported during the telecast of the Jets’ 16-12 loss to the Raiders in Las Vegas last Sunday night that his goal is to return to the field by mid-December.
While Rodgers has not said whether that could mean the Jets’ road game at Miami on Dec. 17, home game against Washington on Christmas Eve or at Cleveland on Dec. 28.
But he has mentioned several times that coming back this season would be contingent on whether the Jets (4-5) are still in the playoff hunt.
“If I have a great week this week and next week, that could be accelerated,” he said on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Tuesday. “If we’re not in it in three or four weeks, that could take it a different way. But I expect us to be in it and I expect to come back.”
Aaron Rodgers adds stipulations to his Jets return
Whether that’s all wishful thinking remains to be seen.
The Jets have a tough stretch coming up with AFC East matchups at Buffalo on Sunday and at home against Miami on Nov. 24 in the NFL’s first game on the day after Thanksgiving. New York is then at home for consecutive games against Atlanta on Dec. 3 and Houston on Dec. 10.
While New York’s defense has been playing at a high level,…
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Publish date : 2023-11-15 19:22:51
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