Robert Saleh on Aaron Rodgers: ‘If the doctors clear him, then we’ll clear him’

Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers has started setting a goal of returning to the team in mid-December. He expressed that goal both last week during his weekly appearance with Pat McAfee as well as during Sunday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders while speaking to Sunday Night Football sideline reporter Melissa Stark.

Rodgers has also repeatedly said the Jets have to be in the mix for the playoffs for him to consider an early return. At 4-5, their chances at the playoffs are getting smaller and smaller.

Head coach Robert Saleh was asked about a potential return for Rodgers. Saleh simply said “If the doctors clear him, then we’ll clear him.”

“If the doctors clear him then we’ll clear him.” – Robert Saleh on Aaron Rodgers returning in mid December #Jets pic.twitter.com/j8KPWOy8Hb

— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) November 13, 2023

Rodgers suffered the injury September 11 against the Buffalo Bills. He is only about ten weeks removed from the injury and subsequent surgery. A mid-December return would be about 15 weeks since the surgery. But if the Jets don’t sit with a realistic playoff chance, Rodgers may think twice about coming back early and may just take all the time he needs to recover and focus on 2024.

The Jets would love to have Rodgers back this season for a playoff run, but their offensive failures in his absence have started ruining any hope of that happening.