Aaron Rodgers returned to MetLife Stadium on Sunday, three weeks after tearing his Achilles tendon in his New York Jets debut.
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It will be the first time the four-time MVP returns to MetLife Stadium after suffering a potentially season-ending injury in Week 1.
The casually dressed signal caller, who wore a white T-shirt, blue jeans and sunglasses, appeared to be in good spirits as he waved slightly at the camera and smiled.
According to a person familiar with the situation, the 39-year-old attended a team meeting at the Jets’ hotel on Saturday evening, according to the Associated Press.
Aaron Rodgers returned to MetLife Stadium on Sunday three weeks after tearing his Achilles tendon
Rodgers tore his Achilles minutes in his Jets debut against the Buffalo Bills on September 11th
Rodgers had been healing and rehabilitating at home in Malibu, California, after undergoing surgery two and a half weeks ago to repair a torn left Achilles tendon. Rodgers was injured four times in his debut with the Jets on September 11 against Buffalo.
Rodgers hinted earlier this week during his weekly appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” that he could make his first public appearance since the injury if doctors clear him to travel.
“You never know who you’re going to see at the game,” Rodgers said with a grin.
Rodgers won’t be the only VIP attending the game, as Taylor Swift is expected to be in New Jersey to watch the Week 4 game while romancing Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.
Swift played in Kansas City’s last game, a 41-10 win over the Chicago Bears last Sunday at Arrowhead. In that game, Kelce had seven receptions for one touchdown and 69 yards.
Photos published by the New York Post on Friday of Rodgers walking on crutches and wearing his left leg in a compression sleeve after a practice in Los Angeles further fueled speculation that the quarterback might attend the game.
“I would like to have him back, but whenever it is safe for him to travel,” coach Robert Saleh said Friday. “I know he wants to go back, but I’m not entirely sure where that falls on the timeline.”
Apparently it was just in time for him to get to the game on Sunday night. His teammates loved the idea that Rodgers would eventually rejoin them, even if he can’t play.
Taylor Swift is expected to be in attendance during her romance with Chiefs czar Travis Kelce
Rodgers hinted earlier this week that he could be making his first public appearance since the injury
At first, it looked like Rodgers would miss the entire year or even consider retiring
“It would be great to have a football mind like him on the team so someone like me could take my mind off things and see what he was thinking,” wide receiver Garrett Wilson said Friday . “Having him around, the energy, the aura that he brings, I mean, it’s priceless, man.” As soon as we can get him back, his presence will be felt.
“And I’m looking forward to that. I hope it’s this weekend.”
Initially, it looked like Rodgers would miss the entire year, and the injury even cast doubt on his future in the NFL.
Rodgers, who turns 40 in December, even admitted to Pat McAfee that he considered retiring from football immediately after the injury.
“It’s tough, every single day is tough.” “I’ve been dealing with rehab and I’m looking forward to getting back to Jersey at some point,” Rodgers said when giving an update on his rehab last week. “It’s disappointing not to be out there.”
Rodgers also joked that his rehab was a “reverse darkness retreat” as he was in a white room with nothing hanging on the walls.
According to ESPN, it’s “not out of the question” that Rodgers returns before the Super Bowl in February, as the quarterback refuses to put a time frame on his return.
Meanwhile, Rodgers has been watching his new team, which he joined in a blockbuster transfer from the Green Bay Packers in the offseason, from home.
Rodgers said the Jets’ offense “needs to grow up” amid mounting frustration this week.
Running back Michael Carter was seen yelling at his position coach on the sideline on Sunday
But the veteran apparently wasn’t impressed with what he saw on the field as he gave his teammates some stern advice earlier this week.
Rodgers was making his weekly appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” when he said he wasn’t a fan of the “little side conversations” that took place during the 15-10 loss to the New England Patriots and said his teammates needed to do ‘grow up.’
“I think we need to maintain our poise across the board a little better,” Rodgers said.
“Just offensively, we need to stop some of those things from happening on the sideline and be a little bit better and be a, just a little bit better competitor.”
“Too many little side conversations, and we just need to grow up on offense a little bit, hold on and do our jobs and not point fingers at each other – and that’s everyone. “Don’t point fingers at the coaching staff, point Don’t point your fingers at each other. Just get back to work and get the job done.”
Rodgers was mostly alluding to the animated conversations that were visible on the sidelines between WR Garrett Wilson and RB Michael Carter.