Aaron Rodgers has honest admission about late push for his return

Aug 19, 2023; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) during warmups for the Jets game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports

There was some recent buzz about the potential return of New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers this season. That possibility appears to be all but shut down now.

Rodgers made a Tuesday appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” wherein he hinted about playing a few more years for the Jets.

But concerning a return this season, Rodgers cleared up how unlikely it always was given that he is just under 4 months removed from his Week 1 injury.

“I’m still 14 weeks tomorrow from my surgery and being medically cleared as 100% healed is just not realistic at 14 weeks,” Rodgers told McAfee.

Aaron Rodgers finally puts to rest the notion of him attempting a comeback this season with Pat McAfee.

"I'm still 14 weeks tomorrow from my surgery and being medically cleared as 100% healed is just not realistic." pic.twitter.com/BNjt83KF3I

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 19, 2023

On its face, what Rodgers said makes a lot of sense. There’s no point in pushing for a return unless he is fully healthy and comfortable on the field.

The Jets were also mathematically eliminated from the playoffs Sunday after a brutal 30-0 loss to the Miami Dolphins. There’s hardly any incentive for Rodgers to return to a team without any postseason aspirations.

But his statement also comes after several weeks of reports and some amateur lip-reading that all pointed to the 40-year-old trying to defy medical recovery norms.

With not much to play for, Rodgers and the Jets appear to have shut down any miraculous comebacks with 3 games left in the season.