Aaron Rodgers returns to practice: Jets’ schedule until potential return, risk vs. reward of historic recovery

Aaron Rodgers returned to Jets practice this week, less than three months after the Jets quarterback suffered a torn Achilles. It’s the latest sign that Rodgers is on an unprecedented recovery track, considering most players with such injuries require anywhere from eight to 12 months of rehab. Why, exactly, is he doing this? Can the Jets still make a run? And what is A-Rod risking here?

Let’s try to unpack each of the pressing questions:

Why is Rodgers rushing to return?

Well, for one, he wants to play. There might not have been a more anticipated story going into the 2023 season than Rodgers relocating from the Packers to the Jets, instantly infusing New York with title aspirations. No one could’ve predicted his Gang Green debut would last just four snaps. At 39, admittedly close to the end of his career, it’s not hard to see why Rodgers would want to return sooner rather than later, especially if it means salvaging a playoff run in his first year with a new team.

But the question has now become, are the Jets even capable of restoration? At 4-7, having benched Rodgers’ hapless fill-in, Zach Wilson, for career No. 3 Tim Boyle, New York has less than a 1% chance of making the playoffs according to current SportsLine simulations. Only one team, the Patriots (2-9) is below the Jets in the current postseason standings, with seven others ahead of them in the race for the final AFC wild-card spot. So if Rodgers is still pressing to return, is he really doing it to save New York?

Despite Fox Sports recently reporting that Rodgers wants to suit up regardless of the team’s standing, perhaps just to prove skeptics wrong, the QB told reporters Thursday that it wouldn’t “make a ton of sense” to come back if the Jets are out of it.

When could Rodgers actually return?

Based on Rodgers’ mobility in pre-game throwing seasons this year, plus his limited return to practice this week, CBS Sports HQ injury expert Marty Jaramillo believes Week 16 remains the most likely potential return date for Rodgers.

“His recovery is on pace to slash traditional rehab protocols by (more than) half,” Jaramillo told CBSSports.com Wednesday. “At the end of the day, he is in charge, and (his) medical team is letting Aaron do his thing with key constraints.”

The Jets will host the Commanders on Christmas Eve that week. Week 16 is also a key marker in Rodgers’ official recovery timeline. Designated to return from…