In his weekly appearance on the “Pat McAfee Show” on Tuesday, New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers confirmed he will not be playing in Week 16 against the Washington Commanders.
This comes weeks after speculation that Rodgers was targeting a Christmas Eve return, just over three months after having surgery to repair a torn Achilles.
In actuality, almost no one believed the 40-year-old Rodgers could have possibly returned so quickly from an injury that routinely takes a full year, or sometimes more, to recover from.
“I think the whole time it’s been hoping that we’re still in it because it was unrealistic to think that I would be 100 percent to be medically cleared at any point during the regular season,” Rodgers told McAfee. “I do feel like in the next three to four weeks, it would have been very possible to get to 100 percent, but obviously [I’m] not there.
Rodgers made it clear, though, if he was 100%, he’d be on the field.
“If I was 100% today, I’d definitely be pushing to play.”
“I do feel like in the next three to four weeks it would be very possible to get to 100%..
If I was 100% today I’d definitely be pushing to play” ~ @AaronRodgers12 #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/aBSqWSquVY
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) December 19, 2023
The Jets were officially eliminated from playoff contention last week, giving no Rodgers incentive to return — if he was fully healthy.
One thing Rodgers noted is how important it was for him to show other players they could beat the timelines to return from the same surgery. He said he’d spoken with several players, including Kirk Cousins, who had suffered the same injury this season and passed along some things that worked for him in hopes of helping others.
Rodgers also said his trade to the Jets has rejuvenated him, and he sees himself playing possibly two more seasons.
“I don’t think next year will be my last year,” he said.
Rodgers’ return in such a short timeframe was never realistic and gained too much momentum.
Instead of Rodgers, Washington will face either Zach Wilson or Trevor Siemian in what could be one of the ugliest games of the 2023 season.