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Rich Cimini, ESPN Staff Writer
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers hinted on Tuesday that he could be back on the field in six weeks for the first time since tearing his Achilles tendon.
“It’ll be a few fortnights,” Rodgers said during his weekly spot on “The Pat McAfee Show.”
Rodgers’ comment comes eight weeks after surgery and sparked speculation about his return after the Jets’ 27-6 home loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. During postgame handshakes, he informed Chargers’ safety Derwin James of his intentions to play in “a few weeks,” leading to the widely circulated video.
A day later, Rodgers sought to downplay his remark, attributing it to a joke directed at James, to whom he is well acquainted due to their mutual representation by the same agency.
“Obviously, that was said with a little tongue-in-cheek there,” Rodgers said. “It’d be nice to be able to be back in a couple of weeks. That’s probably not anywhere near a realistic timeline.”
Pressed, Rodgers explained the “fortnights” terminology, suggesting that a six-week return would take him to Christmas week, with the Jets hosting the Washington Commanders on Dec. 24.
An NFL player returning from an Achilles injury in six weeks would be unprecedented, with Rodgers, 39, expressing his goal to play again this season. Before the game, he showcased his capabilities by throwing 55-yard passes and performing crossover steps for the first time.
Coach Robert Saleh declined to comment on whether Rodgers has shared a projected timeline with him, indicating on Tuesday, “I’m not going to say anything that he’s told me, but I do know if he’s working really hard to get back here.”
Clearance from doctors and approval from the Jets would be required for Rodgers to return, a significant risk-reward calculation.
Rodgers, who has continuously maintained the absence of a specific timeline, mentioned for the first time the notion of returning to practice at some point.
“We’re still a little ways off,” he said. “I’ve got to hit markers, and I’ve got to get on the practice field. Then they have to open up the window for me to come back from it. So, there’s a lot that has to happen. I’m not saying it can’t get accelerated, but there’s still a lot of things I’ve got to do before we can even talk about getting on the field.”
Rodgers acknowledged entering the “danger zone” in his recovery and noted the importance of avoiding excessive strain to prevent a setback. He has been walking without crutches and expressed a necessary playoff contention condition for his return, highlighting the team’s offensive struggles in his absence.
“Obviously, we’ve got to be in the mix, there’s no doubt about it,” said Rodgers. “But more than that, I’ve got to be able to be healthy, to be able to move, to be able to protect myself, to be able to have strength in all the throws.”
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