When New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers shredded his Achilles tendon on the fourth play of the season, most football fans thought the Jets season was effectively over. While it still may be as the Jets sit at 3-3 in third place in their division, that hasn’t stopped Aaron Rodgers from attempting the nearly impossible; he wants to play again this season.
An Achilles injury is difficult, at best, to come back from. Many younger players have experienced similar injuries and have never recovered. For an older player like Rodgers, the odds are decidedly against a comeback, no less in season.
As medical technology and rehab improve, so do the odds of a full recovery and a resumption of a career. Rodgers has big plans to return this season and was actually on the field before the last game, throwing the football.
Besides being a fierce competitor, Aaron Rodgers is also a free spirit who isn’t afraid to ruffle feathers and talk about his beliefs, both socially and politically. During a recent episode of “The Pat McAfee Show,” Rodgers and the host were discussing the injury when the quarterback couldn’t resist taking a jab at Dr. Anthony Fauci.
McAfee talked of how Rodgers is defying science by being on the field throwing and has plans to return later this season. He said: “That’s what they’re saying about you. Shannon Sharpe said this morning …” This led Rodgers to hilariously interject: “Like we learned, if science is Dr. Fauci, you’re damn right I’m defying science.”
Despite Rodger’s insistence that he wants to be ready should the Jets make the playoffs, he still wants to be careful with his rehab. He continued: “I believe in the power of intention. I believe in the power of your mind and the will – will power. Basically, the entire time, I kind of said this is what I’d like to do – rehab wise. Got some incredible people to work with not just the Jets.”
The future Hall of Fame quarterback is a big proponent of alternative therapies and psychedelics, so it should come as no surprise that he is harnessing the power of his mind to help with his recovery. Whether that power is all in his mind or not, a positive attitude toward rehab never hurt anyone, and it certainly couldn’t hurt a 39-year-old quarterback.
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Rodgers has been asking his physician, Dr. Neal Elattrache, if he could “push it” in terms of his rehab. He also noted that running back Cam Akers of the Los Angeles Rams tore his achilles yet returned to the field in a scant five months. While Akers didn’t immediately excel upon his return, as a running back he relies far more on his legs than a quarterback does, so if Rodgers can return in that timeframe he will have a better shot at success than Akers did.
It remains to be seen if the 39-year-old Rodgers will have the recovery necessary to allow him to return this season, or if he will even have a reason to. If the Jets don’t improve their play in the short term, coming back would be pointless. However, if anyone can defy science, it is Aaron Rodgers, so stay tuned!