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Aaron Rodgers defied conventional medicine by returning to practice just 77 days after surgery for a torn Achilles tendon.
How he did it should be the No. 1 question instead of questioning his motivation.
Even if Rodgers doesn鈥檛 play again for the New York Jets (4-7) this season because it wouldn鈥檛 make sense if they鈥檙e eliminated from the playoff race, his sets a standard. Every player who tears an Achilles tendon should call Rodgers and ask him about his surgical procedure, how he rehabilitated, what he ate and drank. No question is a stupid one.
Rodgers had a 鈥渟peed bridge鈥 procedure that鈥檚 designed to expedite the recovery process. He said Thursday he attributes his progress to working hard in rehab and a strict diet.
"It is remarkable how quickly he has recovered from his surgery,鈥 said Dr. Peter DeLuca, chief of sports medicine at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center who spent more than 20 years as the team physician for the Philadelphia Eagles and Philadelphia Flyers. 鈥淭he type of repair he had with the 鈥榮peed bridge鈥 has allowed him to participate in an accelerated rehabilitation program. It is obvious that Aaron has worked very hard in his rehab. I am sure during this recovery process, the medical staff has closely monitored the repair site to make sure it is not stretching out. The goals of rehab are to get full range of motion and strength back without compromising the repair.鈥
The soon-to-be 40-year-old Rodgers may have cracked the code for an injury that鈥檚 typically season-ending and normally takes players at least nine months to recover. No professional athlete is known to have returned from it in less than five months.
Former Rams running back Cam Akers tore an Achilles tendon in late July 2021, was cleared to practice on Dec. 21 and came back for the final regular-season game on Jan. 9, 2022. Akers had 67 carries for 172 yards in four playoff games, including a Super Bowl victory.
Rodgers didn鈥檛 rule out returning before his initial goal of Dec. 24. The Jets need to cooperate and win some games. If he comes back, he鈥檇 beat Akers by two months.
Based on seeing Rodgers throw at practice on television, DeLuca, who isn't involved in Rodgers' treatment, still thinks it鈥檚 a longshot the four-time NFL MVP plays this season.
鈥淗e has come a long way and faster along than most people after an Achilles tendon repair, but from what I see on TV, he is a long way from playing professional football,鈥 DeLuca said. "I truly believe he won鈥檛 return unless his surgeon feels that he is at minimum risk for reinjury and the Jets are in the playoffs.鈥
Proving people wrong has pushed Rodgers. He鈥檚 admitted that鈥檚 part of 鈥 ,鈥 as Jets coach Robert Saleh called it.
But critics have attacked Rodgers鈥 desire to return, saying he鈥檚 selfish and craves attention.
The same critics who are quick to point out when a player is slacking or isn鈥檛 doing enough to earn a huge salary suddenly are going after a guy who works hard to get back on the field as quickly as possible.
Rodgers also was fueled by his age and love for competition. He knows he鈥檚 at the back end of his career. He came to New York to turn a losing franchise into a winner before he runs out of time.
鈥淚 think he鈥檚 sacrificed so much already for the organization and himself and his teammates and he鈥檚 doing it again,鈥 Saleh said. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 a testament to who he is as a human. Yeah, obviously, there鈥檚 a little bit of that drive where he wants to prove that it can be done faster than anyone鈥檚 ever done before. That鈥檚 OK. That is just part of his mental makeup. I think he still runs with a chip on his shoulder and that鈥檚 the way he lives his life where he always wants to prove people wrong, in terms of, doubting him and he鈥檚 a special human."
In an era of self-promotion on social media where going viral with a 鈥渉ot take鈥 is a bigger priority than providing substance for some analysts and broadcasters, Rodgers was even criticized for being on the sideline with his team throughout the season, even though backup quarterback Zach Wilson and others have pointed out having him around is helpful.
鈥淚 think the cool thing about Aaron is he brings so much wisdom and perspective to the quarterback room,鈥 said Tim Boyle, who replaced the ineffective Wilson as the starter. 鈥淭revor (Siemian) obviously has been around for a while and Zach鈥檚 played his fair share of football, too. But, you know, Aaron . ... he just brings so much wisdom and confidence. He asks the tough questions in the quarterback room trying to make me think at the next level, which I really appreciate.鈥
If Rodgers took his $37.5 million and disappeared to California after his surgery, he would鈥檝e been destroyed by the media. He stuck around to be a good teammate and still hears it from the haters.
He must be doing something right.
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AP Pro Football Writer Dennis Waszak contributed to this report.
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