Jets' Aaron Rodgers Says He's Still Walking with a Limp amid Achilles Injury Recovery

As he attempts to make an unprecedented return from a torn Achilles, New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers admitted Tuesday that there is still a long road ahead of him.

During an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show (h/t Albert Breer of The MMQB), Rodgers noted that he isn't yet able to walk without a limp, saying: "I'm not walking without a limp yet. ... I don't quite have the strength in my calf to be able to walk without a limp yet. Again, based on normal timetables, I have to have some perspective here. I'm not on a normal protocol."

Rodgers also said that while he had a "tough week" of rehab, he is making progress and is "really close" to being able to walk normally in a shoe:

On only the Jets' fourth offensively play from scrimmage of the season in Week 1, Rodgers suffered a torn Achilles while getting sacked against the Buffalo Bills.

While a torn Achilles is typically a season-ending injury, and still may be in Rodgers' case, he has made it clear that he intends on attacking rehab in hopes of somehow making it back to the field at some point this season.

It may be a pipe dream more so than a realistic goal based on the usual timeline to return from a torn Achilles, but Rodgers is already doing some things that suggest he may be ahead of schedule.

Prior to the Jets' Week 6 win over the Philadelphia Eagles, Rodgers was seen on the field without crutches, and he even threw the football around for several minutes.

Rodgers told McAfee (h/t ESPN's Rich Cimini) that he wore "specially designed sneakers" with an insert that supported his Achilles.

During the offseason, the Jets acquired the 39-year-old future Hall of Famer and four-time NFL MVP from the Green Bay Packers in hopes that he could put an end to their 12-year playoff drought.

The Achilles injury threw the Jets off course momentarily, but they have rallied and played well as a team around quarterback Zach Wilson, producing a better-than-expected 3-3 record so far this season.

If the Jets can find a way to stay in the playoff race until the latter part of the season and Rodgers' rehab continues to move at a rapid pace, perhaps there is at least a small chance that he can return and play the role of hero by leading Gang Green to the postseason.