When it comes to making the playoffs, the Jets by all appearances are done. When it comes to his effort to play again this year, quarterback Aaron Rodgers is not.
In his weekly appearance with Pat McAfee, Rodgers was asked whether he’ll potentially slow down his rehab efforts given the team’s struggles.
“No, not at all,” Rodgers said. “I mean, I find those two are mutually exclusive. You know, my speed at which I’m doing the rehab has been kind of the same from the beginning. It’s ‘push it as hard as we can, every single day.’ And, you know, as long as we’re not stretching the Achilles, we feel like we’re in a good place.”
But how can anyone feel like the Jets are in a good place?
“Listen, there’s been some 4-6 teams that have made runs over the years,” Rodgers said. “Back in 2016, there was a team in the NFC North that people were counting out that went on a run . . . That won eight in a row and went to the NFC Championship game. There was a team in 2009 in the Big Apple — well, Jersey — that was 4-6, finished 9-7, went to the AFC Championship game.”
He’s referring to the 2016 Packers and the 2009 Jets. But the 2023 Jets don’t have Rodgers, or Mark Sanchez. They’re down to Tim Boyle, who will start on Friday against the Dolphins.
“The season is definitely not over,” Rodgers said. “It’s not dead. There’s a lot left to play for. I’m excited about where I’m at in my rehab. And things are progressing as quickly as I thought they would, once I’ve been able to jog on a treadmill and excited about getting back to the team and seeing where I’m at.”
Regardless of where he’s at, there’s a good chance the team will be taking up residence in a town known as Mathematically Eliminated, Unincorporated.