Injured Aaron Rodgers’ Swift Achilles Recovery Leaves NFL Analyst in Awe on Stephen A. Smith’s First Take

On Tuesday morning, First Take hosts Stephen A. Smith, Molly Qerim, and Shannon Sharpe had an interesting guest. They had another expert, Pat McAfee, on the show. McAfee has had an incredible career thus far. Alongside punting in football, he has had forays into professional wrestling. He now works as a sports analyst for ESPN, particularly on College GameDay, aside from having his own show.

On the latest episode of his eponymous show, Aaron Rodgers was to be one guest. That episode was to follow First Take on ESPN. Noting that McAfee had an incredible relationship with the New York Jets quarterback, Stephen A. Smith made one request of McAfee for the same. Rodgers, incidentally, tore his left Achilles tendon during Week 1. He had to undergo surgery two days after making his debut with the Jets. Rodgers left Green Bay, Wisconsin after a lengthy stint at Lambeau Field. According to Smith, joining the Jets gave him the chance to play with a first-round pick at wide receiver after many years.

Aaron Rodgers is walking at least two months early

Ahead of the Jets’ showdown with the Philadelphia Eagles on home turf, Rodgers was seen walking and tossing the ball about. As confirmed by CBS Sports injury expert Marty Jaramillo, Rodgers walked with no crutches, no boot, and a minimal limp. Those, Jaramillo added, were signs of recovery on a never-before-seen exponential scale. McAfee had much the same to say on Rodgers’ recovery.

When quizzed about Rodgers’ powers of recovery by Qerim, Pat McAfee referred to a conversation he had with the quarterback. That, he added, was the first conversation Rodgers had with a media personality following his surgery. Rodgers, McAfee confessed, had designs of returning from the injury faster than anyone else. At the time, he thought the quarterback was still feeling the after-effects of the surgery.

Pat McAfee revealed he kept in touch with Rodgers regularly following that initial exchange. McAfee added the medical team in Los Angeles wanted nothing to do with a conventional recovery schedule. Rodgers, he pointed out, was insistent on returning to the Jets’ building only when he could walk by himself.

As McAfee put it, “He thought it was symbolic. He didn’t want his teammates to see him rolling around [in a wheelchair], he wanted them to see him doing his thing.” Interestingly enough, Rodgers did just that, at least two months early. McAfee added Rodgers had the requisite mindset to come back before the season’s end and the medical team provided him with the remaining tools.

Stephen A. Smith reserves soundbite for detractors of Pat McAfee and Aaron Rodgers

Thanks to the tools at his disposal, Rodgers may return during the post-season, an unprecedented turn of events, at the current rate. That, McAfee noted, gave the Jets added incentive to be in the reckoning for the playoffs. The Jets beat the Eagles 20-14, handing them their first loss of the NFL season. Presently 3-3, they face the New York Giants next Sunday. McAfee said, “… I think the Jets believe that they’re gonna keep this record and everything in line so that there’s hope whenever he comes back that they can go on a miraculous run …” Stephen A. Smith had one last request to make of McAfee, though, before the segment ended.

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He requested a soundbite be played on McAfee’s show. Smith critiqued all those who had an issue with the relationship between McAfee and Rodgers. He added the ones who have such a relationship with an elite player and can remain unapologetic about their commentary should feel blessed. Smith gave McAfee credit for having such a relationship with Rodgers.

Pat McAfee admitted, that should Aaron Rodgers pull it off, it would be nothing short of awe-inspiring. There is speculation that Rodgers could return as early as Week 15, according to CBS Sports. McAfee states at the end “If he’s able to accomplish this, it’d be one of the most ridiculous things ever happened in modern medicine, and obviously, in football” All that remains is to see how long this accelerated recovery process takes and if the Jets will have something to play for then.

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