Jets’ Aaron Rodgers Returns To Practice 11 Weeks After Achilles Tear

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers was limited in his first practice Wednesday. The four-time MVP is returning to the practice field less than four months after undergoing surgery to repair a torn Achilles. He turns 40 on Saturday.

Rodgers has not yet been cleared for contact and did not participate in 11-on-11 drills. He was only designated as a limited participant because the Jets had to list him after clearing him to return to the field. Though his progression has been historically rapid in comparison to similar cases, head coach Robert Saleh said that he is still a far way off from playing. He didn’t rule it out, however.

“I think he’s sacrificed so much already for the organization and himself and his teammates, and he’s doing it again,” Saleh said. “I think it is a testament to who he is as a human. Obviously, there’s a little bit of that drive where he wants to prove that it could be done faster than anyone has ever done it before. That’s just part of his mental makeup. I think he still runs with a chip on his shoulder.”

The team’s star quarterback, now notorious for going down on his very first drive with the team in Week 1, has previously said that he would try to come back this season if he was capable and if the Jets had a chance at the playoffs.

At least one of those things seems possible, as Rodgers has come a long way to proving critics wrong during his rehabilitation process. He would be the first player ever to tear his Achilles and return in the same season. The Jets, on the other hand, have struggled immensely in recent weeks and now stand at 4-7.

In Rodgers’ stead, Zach Wilson handled the team erratically for the better part of the season, defeating Jalen Hurts and the Eagles but losing to the lowly Raiders. He was benched after a loss to the Bills and replaced with Tim Boyle, who was similarly hapless in a crushing defeat to the Dolphins.