New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been saying for several weeks that he wants to play again this season.
The 39-year-old veteran tore his Achilles tendon during his first session on the field in the first week of practice. This type of injury typically ends an athlete’s campaign.
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Six weeks later, Rodgers spent his team’s entire sixth game standing – without crutches – on the Jets’ sideline. You could even see him throwing a few balls.
For head coach Robert Saleh, Rodgers’ recovery was spectacular.
“I’m one of those people who asks myself, ‘Should he do this?’ I coached Richard Sherman, who tore his Achilles tendon. I have friends who have had Achilles tendon injuries. In your opinion, what [Rodgers] “This fact is absolutely ridiculous,” the pilot said during his appearance on “Good Morning Football” on Tuesday.
“He is a big believer in manifestation: you are who you think you are and you become what you think you are. He is ready to return sooner than expected.
“I think he’s driven by doubt – I don’t think so, I know – he’s driven by doubt. The more you doubt him, the more fuel he has. He’s on a mission.”
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With that in mind, it wouldn’t be surprising for Saleh if the holder of four NFL MVP awards could do the unthinkable.
“One thing I learned about him is that if he has something on his mind and wants to prove something, he will prove it. A lot of people might doubt him, but I don’t doubt him. We leave the door open for him.”
For his part, Rodgers didn’t want to speculate about a return date.
“Let’s slow the engines down a little bit here,” he said during his weekly appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show.”
“We’re getting a little too far ahead [en parlant de date]. There are signs that things are progressing well. You saw me walking without crutches and throwing the ball. The next stage will be an easy run. Next will probably be a pre-game warm-up and then a training session. Each of the crucial steps will take time.”
The Jets are now enjoying some success. The Big Apple Club defeated the strong Philadelphia Eagles 20:14 last Sunday and has a record of 3:3.