Commander Country

New York Jets QB Aaron Rodgers 'Medically Cleared' vs. Washington Commanders in Week 16?

Aaron Rodgers suffered an Achilles injury in Week 1, but the New York Jets quarterback could make a miraculous return in Week 16 against the Washington Commanders.

Jeremy Brener

In this story:

It could very well be a Christmas miracle!

Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers could look to return from his Week 1 Achilles injury on Dec. 24 when his team hosts the Washington Commanders.

Rodgers, 39, was traded by the Green Bay Packers, the only team he had played for since he was drafted in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft, to the Jets in hopes of having a better chance to compete for a playoff spot. He was also able to reunite with offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, who helped Rodgers win the 2021 league MVP award while he was with the Packers.

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers reacts following the loss against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium.
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers reacts following the loss against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium / Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

However, there are two conditions for Rodgers' improbable return ...

First, the Jets have to be in contention to make the playoffs going into the last three weeks of the season. New York is currently 5-8 going into Week 15 and the team faces the Miami Dolphins, the AFC East leader, on Sunday. If the Jets win, they will remain in contention for Rodgers to be able to finish out the season and possibly squeak into the postseason.

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Second, Rodgers has to be able to protect himself from hits. This one is a little harder to deduce because there is no tangible evidence until he goes out on the field. However, his mobility with his Achilles will affect how he is able to protect himself. If he can, and if the Jets are in the playoff hunt, there's a good chance Rodgers will be under center when the Commanders are in town next week.

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Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.

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