AaronRodgers

News: 5 days agoRodgers is targeting a return to action during the playoffs after undergoing an innovative surgery Wednesday in Los Angeles to repair his torn left Achilles' tendon, Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network report.

Spin: Achilles tears have historically been season-ending injuries, with Rams running back Cam Akers -- who needed just under five months to recover from surgery in 2021 -- having thus far staged the fastest-known recovery from the injury. Rodgers is hopeful to match or beat that five-month recovery timeline, which would fall just under a week before Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas. According to the report, Rodgers and the Jets are optimistic that he'll be in store for an accelerated rehab after his surgery included a procedure to place an internal bridge or "speed bridge" into the ruptured Achilles. The speed bridge is designed to better protect the repaired tendon and open the door for a return from surgery in as little as four months, though there are no guarantees, given that the procedure is a relatively novel one. In addition, Rodgers is expected to receive platelet-rich plasma injections to aid in accelerating the healing process. In a best-case scenario, Rodgers could be ready to play by mid-January, but that probably isn't an outcome the Jets are banking on, even if they claim a playoff spot.

ESPN Fantasy Projection: Rodgers was traded to the Jets after spending his first 18 NFL seasons with the Packers. Rodgers is coming off easily the worst fantasy campaign of his career, having finished 25th in points per game after previously never finishing worse than 13th (and worse than ninth only once). Shockingly, Rodgers' best weekly finish was ninth in Week 10 and a whopping 32 QBs had more top-10 fantasy weeks. Granted, his supporting cast wasn't very good (29 dropped passes ranked third), but Rodgers threw 12 INTs (his most since 2008) and had a career-worst showing as a rusher (34-94-1). The 39-year-old has a respectable supporting cast in New York (led by top WR Garrett Wilson), but he's no longer an elite fantasy option and is safest as a fringe QB1.