NY Jets’ Aaron Rodgers aiming for mid-December return (Report)

On “Sunday Night Football,” NBC’s Melissa Stark revealed when Aaron Rodgers aims to return this season

If the New York Jets’ star quarterback has his way, he will return much earlier than most people anticipate.

According to NBC’s Mellissa Stark, Aaron Rodgers’ goal is to return to the Jets’ starting lineup by mid-December.

Aaron Rodgers’ goal is to return in mid-December, he told @melissastark, according to her report on NBC just now. Would be an incredible recovery and in time for a possible playoff push for the #Jets.

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) November 13, 2023

Looking at the Jets’ upcoming schedule, Rodgers achieving his goal would put him back on the field around the 12/10 game against the Texans and the 12/17 game against the Miami Dolphins. December 10th would basically mark four months since Rodgers tore his Achilles. Considering the nature of the injury and Rodgers’s age, a return in this time frame would be remarkable.

Yet, a few other factors are in play before Rodgers’s return becomes a reality.

Rodgers has admitted that some hurdles are remaining before being cleared to play. Whether it is being able to take snaps from under center, having the stability to move around, or taking hits, Rodgers has to ensure that he is safe on the field.

More importantly, the Jets need to be in a position where it is worth it for Rodgers to return. With consecutive losses to the Chargers and Raiders, the Jets sit at 4-5 on the season and 13th in the overall AFC standings.

There is still time for the Jets to right the ship, starting with two divisional games against the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins. Yet, from an overall team perspective, the Jets do not look like a playoff team.

Their defense, led by a dominating pass rush, has been one of the better units in the league. That success, though, has been offset by one of the most inept offenses in recent memory.

The Jets have gone more than two games without scoring a touchdown. Every aspect of the unit, from their quarterback to the play-caller, has been lackluster. They are putting their defense in a position where a single touchdown allowed ends the game.

Winning against Buffalo and Miami is possible, as the NFL is a week-to-week league. But with how the offense is playing, it is hard to see many games that the Jets can win.

If their current play continues, a once-promising season will be lost again, along with any possibility of an Aaron Rodgers return in 2023.