Aaron Rodgers’ lightning-fast return has brought conspiracy theorists out of the woodwork
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers has done the unthinkable. The 39-year-old has been medically cleared to return to practice 11 weeks after having surgery to repair his ruptured Achilles.
Despite the miraculous comeback and medical anomaly, Rodgers isn’t receiving praise from everyone. Instead, his return is being met with countless attacks and online conspiracies insisting that Rodgers didn’t suffer the injury at all.
Many sports fans have made jokes about Rodgers and his perceived lack of belief in science due to the Jets quarterback’s vaccine stance. Now that the four-time NFL MVP has been cleared to practice, those jokes have increased exponentially.
Not only that, but some fans and members of the media have bought in completely to the idea that Rodgers faked the Achilles tear (despite there being video evidence).
Gregg Doyel of the Indianapolis Star has suggested that Rodgers didn’t suffer a ruptured Achilles. In the process, he claims that the Jets quarterback is a liar.
I don’t believe for a second he suffered a torn Achilles, at least not as we know what a torn Achilles is. Whatever Kevin Durant, Kobe and Brandon Graham suffered, he did not. Because this procedure would be trumpeted as a breakthrough, not treated as a secret. Plus he’s a liar. https://t.co/dDl0Z2DMEp
— Gregg Doyel (@GreggDoyelStar) November 22, 2023
Former ESPN personality Dan Le Batard has also floated this conspiracy theory around prior to the Jets quarterback’s medical clearance. Meanwhile, other social media accounts have posted information asserting that the quarterback also “faked” his Achilles injury and suffered nothing more than a high ankle sprain.
it's almost like he has a high ankle sprain and missed 12 weeks https://t.co/tRuH9ceAfk pic.twitter.com/1ID8a6NMhU
— chuba (@MostCrucified) November 29, 2023
And yet there are still others, like FOX Sports’ Emmanuel Acho, who believe that Rodgers isn’t returning to help the Jets or his teammates at all. Instead, Acho insists that Rodgers is doing it to remain a center for attention – seeking drama instead of a potential playoff chase for New York.
SHOTS FIRED: Emmanuel Acho says #Jets Aaron Rodgers is SELFISH and says this is the reason for his comeback
“I don’t think he loves his teammates, I think he loves attention”
😳
(h/t @MikMcDaniel)
pic.twitter.com/yu1U65x36B— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) November 30, 2023
Rodgers appeared on the Pat McAfee show on Tuesday to address those conspiracy theorists with a simple message. “To anybody out there who thinks I [didn’t tear] my Achilles, GFY.”
Aaron Rodgers message to the people who think he didn't tear his Achilles:
"GFY"
And then the explanation 😂💀#Jets | 🎥 @PatMcAfeeShow pic.twitter.com/pPZjjP8QrA
— Harrison Glaser (@NYJetsTFMedia) November 28, 2023
As for Rodgers himself, the quarterback has stated that he is not completely healthy and that it “wouldn’t make sense” for him to return to action if the team was mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. But when asked by the media if he could make a return sooner than the team’s game against the Washington Commanders in Week 16, Rodgers stated “anything is possible.”
