Aaron Rodgers’ comeback with the Jets in 2023 was cut short after just four plays, when he suffered a devastating left Achilles injury in the season opener against the Bills. Fast forward to the present day, and Rodgers is set to return to MetLife Stadium on Thursday night, marking his first home game since the fateful incident last September.
“I feel good about it. It’s been a long time since I took the field at JetLife, so it’ll be a lot of emotions for sure,” Rodgers expressed to Peter Botte of the New York Post. “But thankfully we’re already into the third game of the season. We’ve played two full games.”
Despite the setback, Rodgers is brimming with optimism and excitement as he gears up for his comeback on the gridiron. “My body feels good, about as good as it can. It’ll be fun to be out there with the crowd. I love night games, so I’m excited about it. Nobody’s really crazy about Thursday games, but everybody loves the weekend after the Thursday games.”
Now at 40 years old, Rodgers is entering his 20th season in the NFL, defying the odds as the league’s oldest player. He finds himself playing alongside teammates like Braelon Allen, who at a tender age of 20, recently etched his name in the history books as the youngest NFL player to score from scrimmage since 1930. Interestingly, Patriots coach Jerod Mayo, who will be standing on the opposite sideline on Thursday, is two years younger than Rodgers and was drafted three years after him.
“It just gets a little weird when you’re playing against head coaches you played against, and you’re playing with guys that could be your kid,” Rodgers reflected, as shared by Rich Cimini of ESPN. “Yeah, it’s a good reminder of how special it is to still be playing at 40.”
As Rodgers prepares to take the field once again, the football world eagerly awaits to witness his triumphant return to the game he loves. The Jets faithful will undoubtedly be out in full force, ready to rally behind their star quarterback as he embarks on this new chapter in his storied career.
