There are new rumblings that point to a specific date and opponent for Aaron Rodgers’ return to the New York Jets this season.
When legendary NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers went down with a torn Achilles after four plays in Week 1, the goal for the New York Jets season quickly shifted. No longer were they a team with Super Bowl aspirations. With the QB determined to return in 2023 the objective instead became to stay in the playoff hunt in the hopes he could lead them into the postseason later in the year.
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Over the last few weeks, there have been various reports about when the 39-year-old might return to action. Including Rodgers himself claiming earlier this month he could be back “in a few weeks.”
During his most recent weekly appearance on “The Pat MacAfee Show” the four-time MVP suggested that in mid-December he might be ready to suit up. Well, a new report claims the real return date would be a bit later than that.
Aaron Rodgers expected to return on Christmas Eve
On Sunday morning, NFL media league insider Ian Rapoport offered up the specific game sources are claiming is the “most likely” date the league legend will be back, and it is just in time for the holidays.
“As he told the Pat MacAfee show recently, he envisions a mid-December return. Here’s my understanding after talking to people involved in this situation. The most likely spot that Aaron Rodgers could return would be the Dec. 24 game against the Commanders. That would be Week 16 and gives him three more games to play this season if he was in fact somehow able to get back.”
– Ian Rapoport
Rapoport also mentioned that the Jets being in legitimate playoff contention and being able to properly protect himself will play a major role in Aaron Rodgers’ final decision to return.