Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers is planning to rejoin his teammates after New York’s bye in Week 7 according to a report from NBC’s Melissa Stark.
Rodgers suffered a torn Achilles only four plays into his Jets debut in Week 1 against the Buffalo Bills.
But he has already set an ambitious goal on his road to recovery after he made his return to MetLife Sunday to watch his teammates against the Kansas City Chiefs.
‘He told me he was medically cleared to fly and traveled in from Los Angeles last night,’ Stark said during the Jets vs Chiefs broadcast.
‘He surprised the team at their hotel. Only Robert Saleh knew he was coming. Rodgers told me he had to be here. He wanted to tell the team to relax – to ignore the noise – saying we’re only three games. He plans to fly back to California this week to get his stitches removed and aggressively continue rehabbing over five hours a day.’
Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers is targeting Week 7 to rejoin his teammates in NY full-time
Rodgers suffered a torn left Achilles only four plays into his New York Jets debut in Week 1
Rodgers was able to apply weight on his injured Achilles in MetLife Stadium on Sunday night
‘His plan is to rejoin the team permanently after their Week 7 bye. And he told me his goal is to play again this season.’
Reports emerged slightly after Rodgers underwent surgery on the injured Achilles stating that he may even be targeting an improbable return in the playoffs after undergoing a relatively new process that placed an internal brace in his ankle known as a ‘speed bridge.’
The procedure was performed by renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache who also operated on Kobe Bryant’s torn Achilles in 2013 and saw the legendary Laker return to the court in eight months.
Although no specific timetables or guarantees were given for Rodgers’ possible return to the field, it appears the groundbreaking surgery may indeed be helping the 39-year-old QB recover at a much faster rate than normally seen after an Achilles tear.
Shortly before Sunday night’s game Rodgers appeared on the Jets sideline and was seen using crutches to gingerly apply weight to his leg while hobbling around the field, despite undergoing surgery only 18 days prior.
He was also wearing what appeared to be brace or air case on his injured ankle.
The standard timeline for recovering from a torn Achilles still has patients in a walking boot until at least six to eight weeks after surgery, yet Rodgers has progressed to being able to at least apply light pressure in less than three weeks.Even if Rodgers is back around the Jets full-time come Week 7 this does not mean he will take the field or even begin practicing that soon. Rather he will likely simply be back in the building with his teammates and coaches.
