Aaron Rodgers continues to demonstrate remarkable healing ability.
With the Jets hosting the Chargers on “Monday Night Football” eight weeks to the day after Rodgers suffered a torn Achilles just four snaps into the season against the Bills, he walked fluidly into the team’s locker room at MetLife Stadium.
This is yet another step forward (pun not intended) after he’s been seen throwing a few warmup passes on the field.
When Rodgers, 39, went down after being trucked by Bills defensive end Leonard Floyd, the consensus was he would be done for the season and some wondered if he may ever return to the gridiron.
However, in his first public comments, Rodgers dared anyone to doubt him and emphasized that he intended to shatter even the most ambitious timetables with a comeback.
“Give me the doubts,” Rodgers said. “Give me the timetables. Give me all the things that you think can, should or will happen, because all I need is that one little extra percent of inspiration. That’s all I need.
“Give me your doubts. Give me your prognostications. And then watch what I do.”
Early last month, Rodgers continued to stoke the idea that he could play again this season.
“There’s nothing normal about how I’m attacking this rehab,” Rodgers told Pat McAfee during his weekly spot on his ESPN show.
“The common practice is about six weeks in a boot, and I was in a shoe in 13 days.”
He continued, “This is just my mindset. I believe in the power of intention. I believe in prayer. I believe in your mental status and the power of will. I believe in making room for the miraculous to happen.”
If Rodgers were to return in-season, it would be the fastest return from an Achilles tear in NFL history.
The closest case to what Rodgers is attempting was when Cam Akers tore his Achilles in July of 2021 and returned in Week 18.
If Rodgers were to come back this season, he would be beating that timetable by more than a month.
With Zach Wilson filling in for Rodgers and having his ups and downs, the Jets are 4-3 and right in the thick of the AFC wild-card race.
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