Aaron Rodgers’ 56-Day Comeback From Achilles Tear Proves Steely Determination Can Sometimes Make the Impossible, Possible

We’re lucky to be witnessing a miracle unfolding before our eyes. The New York Jets had high hopes when they signed Aaron Rodgers from the Green Bay Packers. He had a resume that boasted 4 NFL MVP titles and future Hall of Fame-worthy stats. But the Jets, and Aaron’s, dreams had a crash landing when the QB went crashing to the ground just four plays into their season opener game against the Buffalo Bills. They carted him off the field, and soon the world received heartbreaking news – Aaron Rodgers had torn his left Achilles.

That sounded like a death knell for the Jets. They won that game against the Bills but went on to lose 3 back-to-back games after that, with Zach Wilson as the starting QB. They are currently 4-4, after 9 weeks of the regular season. Now, 56 days after his injury, he is showing massive progress. Medical experts put a one-year timeline on such an injury, but Rodgers is defying all odds. But, it seems like he is opening himself up to more danger. He’s taking on a big risk by pushing himself so much, and it can end up badly, as one NFL player showed us.

Aaron Rodgers set to make history with fastest Achilles tear recovery

Tuesdays are special days not just for Jets fans, but for all NFL fans. As Forbes confirmed Aaron Rodgers might be getting paid $1 million for exclusive scoops on his health updates. But as of now, The Pat McAfee Show is the only place fans can hope for updates directly from the horse’s mouth. In the latest episode, Rodgers, who is always stubborn about not setting a deadline for when he will be back, let slip an important nugget of information. He could be back in December. His exact words were, “a few fortnights”. But before this, Pat McAfee and crew had established that “few = three”, so 3 fortnights would be 42 days.

That would make his overall recovery time a little more than three months. And it’s definitely not just wishful thinking. In the losing game against the Chargers, the 4x NFL MVP was seen throwing the ball across 58 yards. He had already started to walk without crutches and now this. Robert Saleh, the Jets HC, attributed this to his mental fortitude. “For him to be walking already, I wouldn’t put anything past him. He is a big believer in manifestation; you are who you think you are, and you become what you think about. He is willing himself to return faster than what you’re supposed to be.”

A-Rod has himself said that he’s “kind of way ahead”. It does sound incredible, but it is not without precedent. Minnesota Vikings Cam Akers made history when he suffered an Achilles tear while playing for the Los Angeles Rams. He then showed up on the gridiron field just five months later. NBA GOAT Kobe Bryant returned to the hardwood court 8 months after his injury. “It’s Kobe-esque,” Jets DE Quinton Jefferson told the New York Post. “I know Kobe Bryant had the one year he tore his Achilles, everybody counted him out and he put that work in and he came back. That seems like he’s on the same trajectory, man.” But not everyone thinks it’s a wise decision to push his body so much.

Aaron Rodgers is playing with fire after what happened with a Vikings RB

While the world is celebrating A-Rod’s miracle recovery, one doctor advised a word of caution. “Is he playing with fire? Yeah. At this stage of his career, he can’t play with fire,” Dr Jesse More MD said on The Coach JB Show with Big Smitty show. “If he was younger, then sure.” But in less than a month he will be 40 years old, and he shouldn’t be making impossible demands from his body. Cam Akers is 24 years old and things went south for him quickly. He hurt his other Achilles in the game against the Atalanta Falcons. This is his second Achilles injury in 3 years. As Dr Morse explained, he had been using his other foot more since his right leg was weakened due to his first injury. It seems that A-Rod may be moving down that same path.

Kirk Cousins, again from the Vikings and one of the best QBs in the league right now, was having a rare bad season. But now he doesn’t even have a chance to redeem himself as his team has ruled him out for the entire season due to – you guessed it – an Achilles injury, on October 29. After this season, he will be a free agent. Unfortunately for him, he also has a no-trade clause and cannot be franchise-tagged. His future hangs in the balance now.

Read More: Dr. Neal ElAttrache Worked His Magic on Aaron Rodgers- 6 Other Athletes He Has Healed in 2023

Garry Vitti, the Lakers’ trainer said of Kobe, “The hardest sacrifice for Kobe was saving himself from his own nature. In the beginning, I told him: ‘You can’t speed it up, you can only f**k it up.’” Although Rodgers himself has said on multiple occasions that he’s “trusting the process” and not going to give a timeline, the media has been whipping up a frenzy around it. And only a Rodgers-shaped miracle can save the Jets now. Fans definitely want to see him play on the gridiron field as soon as possible, but it shouldn’t come at the risk of him endangering the rest of his career.

Editorial Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of EssentiallySports. 

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