Aaron Rodgers has been the talk of the town this off-season, and it doesn’t seem like the chatter is dying down anytime soon. Since, his move to the New York Jets after spending 18 seasons with the Green Bay Packers, A-Rod has found himself being the central topic of discussion. Although the pundits have continued to take their shots on the 40-year-old QB, his teammates think otherwise. And this time around, one player in particular took it up a notch with some wild comparisons.

Referring to Rodgers, defensive tackle Solomon Thomas said, “I talk to my friends back home all the time. It’s like playing with MJ or Kobe. It is like one-of-a-kind. I feel blessed to be around him. I feel blessed to be part of this team. He’s the best in the game.” Thomas this time has gone above and beyond by comparing the four-time MVP to NBA ‘Goats’ Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. Covering this fascinating comparison, Nick Wright speaking on First Things First went on to explain his views regarding the comparison with basketball greats.

The co-host of First Things First said, “We talk more about Aaron Rodgers than we do about almost any other player in the league and it took Solomon Thomas to get the perfect com so I appreciate that.” Although Nick was quick to appreciate Solomon’s comments on A-Rod, he might have pointed out something similar within those comparisons. Continuing, Nick added, “If you were on the Washington Wizards with Michael Jordan or if you on the Lakers post Achilles Tendon for Kobe Bryant. A once great player looks the same and carries himself the same. And then when the game starts playing Oh you realize he’s not the same at all.”

Nick has pointed out a similarity between A-Rod with Jordan and Bryant by bringing up their respective post-Achilles comeback. Even though this might not be the reason behind Solomon drawing those comparisons. Nick did warn the Jets fans regarding A-Rod’s comeback after a season-ending Achilles injury where he played only four snaps last season.

Not only Nick but former NFL executive Mike Tannenbaum also spoke about the caution regarding Rodgers’s comeback. Mike pointed out, “When you’re over 40 years old and you’re coming off an Achilles tendon injury. And what I’m really curious to see in training camp-we’ll see what he does in the preseason.” Talking about pre-season A-Rod has finally made his comeback to the team by showing his precision on Wednesday. His brief comeback session saw him throw six special deliveries to WR Garrett Wilson, RB Breece Hall, and WR Malachi Corley for TDs. But only time will tell whether A-Rod can make his comeback while guiding the Jets to their long-time coming Super Bowl run.

Can Aaron Rodgers shut his critics down post-Achilles?

At one point Aaron Rodgers himself was consumed in dark thoughts regarding his comeback post-Achilles. Appearing on the “I Can Fly” podcast, A-Rod said, “I was really thinking, this is it. You don’t come back from this injury.” However, entering his 19th season in the NFL, Aaron Rodgers is pretty familiar with showing his critics what he is capable of. Having the ability to constantly get out of the pocket while extending plays during his career, A-Rod has racked up 59,055 yards of passes with 475 TDS at a pass completion average of 65.3. Even this season Rodgers will aim for something similar as the new-look offense might put the Jets where they want to be.

With wide receivers like Garrett Wilson, Mike Williams, Allen Lazard, and Malachi Corley waiting to get on a pass from A-Rod. This upcoming season might bring out the true capabilities of an offense that fumbled badly without A-Rod’s presence last season. Even Breece Hall could be a weapon in the build-up by playing as a dynamic WR of the backfield. He could tone down the pressure required during the passing game while letting A-Rod do his thing.

However, Rodgers might not be the only NFL player who is aiming to come back strong after suffering an Achilles injury. QB Vinny Testaverde, Brett Favre, and Dan Marino were also some of the players who ruptured Achilles Tendon during their NFL career. Most of those players weren’t able to show off the agility and quickness they once had. But can A-Rod break that trend by re-discovering his pre-Achilles form? Or will he get added to the list of players who never managed to turn their careers around post-Achilles?