LAS VEGAS — Aaron Rodgers gave his most specific timeline for a return yet on Sunday night.
NBC sideline reporter Melissa Stark reported that Rodgers told her his goal is to “come back mid-December.”
Rodgers told her this in a conversation before the Jets’ 16-12 loss to the Raiders.
“He said, ‘I know it sounds insane, but you do a good surgery and you have a good patient it makes this possible,’ ” Stark said.
Rodgers hinted at a December return last week on “The Pat McAfee Show” when he said he would be back in “a few fortnights.”
Now, he has been more specific.
Jets coach Robert Saleh was asked about Rodgers’ comments after Sunday’s game.
“I don’t know,” Saleh said. “If the doctors clear him, we’ll clear him.”
The Jets started their sixth different offensive line combination and fifth in five games on Sunday night.
Xavier Newman made his first start, going to right guard with Max Mitchell kicking out to right tackle.
Joe Tippmann was at center with Laken Tomlinson at left guard and Mekhi Becton at left tackle.
Tomlinson is the only Jets lineman to start every game this season at the same position.
The Jets lost Billy Turner to a finger injury in last week’s loss to the Chargers.
Turner had started at right tackle.
That meant Mitchell had to move from right guard, where he started last week, back to tackle and Newman was added to the starting lineup.
The Jets have lost linemen Duane Brown, Connor McGovern, Alijah Vera-Tucker and Wes Schweitzer to injured reserve.
Jets rookie edge rusher Will McDonald was inactive.
McDonald suffered an ankle injury during the week and did not practice Friday.
That meant Carl Lawson was active.
He had been inactive in three of the past four games.
The other inactives were: WR Jason Brownlee, WR Randall Cobb, RB Israel Abanikanda, DB Jarrick Bernard-Converse, Turner and LB Chazz Surratt.
— Additional reporting by Joseph Staszewski in New York
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