Stephen A. Smith sounds off on Aaron Rodgers’ quick return from Achilles injury: “It’s a stupid thing to do”

Aaron Rodgers has been in the limelight despite being absent on the field due to rehabbing from his torn Achilles. The quarterback has been very vocal about his recovery journey and even boldly claimed to be “ahead of schedule.” However, he has always been tight-lipped about the timeline of his potential return to the field.

Though a mid-December return was highly projected, and A-Rod himself blew the New York Jets squad’s minds with his recent workout video, he ensured to keep suspense about resuming play. The signal-caller has now been active in Gang Green’s practice session. Meanwhile, ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith thinks the decision was just stupid.

SAS weighs in on Rodgers’ miraculous comeback bid

Days ago, NFL Insider Josina Anderson advised Aaron Rodgers to take a cautious approach, suggesting that risking the entirety of the upcoming season for a quick return might not be in his best interest. Anderson emphasized the potential devastating impact of another injury of similar magnitude. Her concern stemmed from the gravity of Rodgers’ previous torn Achilles and the potential risks of rushing back onto the field.

Echoing the chorus of caution, Stephen A. Smith strongly advised the quarterback to carefully reconsider any hasty plans of making a comeback. He criticized the four-time MVP for risking his health by returning during a challenging season for the struggling Jets, who have only managed to win four games.

“The New York Jets lost four straight. They’re 4—7. We’re playing for nothing. What are we doing? Take your a– home. Go on The Pat McAfee Show every Tuesday. Kick your feet up. Relax… You make one wrong move, it’s your Achilles, and something else could happen to you, and for what? What purpose does it serve? It’s a stupid thing to do. Sit your a– home”, Smith said via Fox59.

But analyst Dan Orlovsky offered a different take, speculating that A-Rod may be considering a return just to “check the box” instead of those more cautious voices. By pointing out Cam Akers’ impressive recovery from a similar injury in less than six months, he suggested that the quarterback could potentially make a remarkable comeback.

However, Smith disagreed with Orlovsky’s stance, emphasizing that the former Green Bay Packers veteran had already established his legacy. He emphasized A-Rod’s Super Bowl victory, his guaranteed spot in the Hall of Fame, and his reputation as one of the all-time greatest quarterbacks in the league. For Smith, the risk of reinjury is much greater than any additional accomplishments the quarterback might pursue this season.

“What box? He’s a Super Bowl champion, he’s a sure-fire future Hall of Famer, he’s one of the greatest quarterbacks to have ever lived. Really? … Talk about [playing] football for this team. For this team?”

Having sustained the Achilles injury on September 11, the customary recovery period for such an injury spans between six to nine months. Surprisingly, Rodgers returned to practice a mere 11 weeks after undergoing surgery. The Jets initiated a 21-day window for his potential return, with their head coach, Robert Saleh, affirming that the QB’s practice routine closely aligns with standard individual drill activities.

Aaron Rodgers’ personal guilt over Zach Wilson’s benching

As Aaron Rodgers was rehabbing from his potential season-ending injury, Zach Wilson became the Jets ray of hope for putting an end to their playoff drought. However, the young star could not live up to the sky-high expectations and lost his starting job to Tim Boyle, with Trevor Siemian as his backup.

Wilson’s trajectory this season has been met with unmet expectations, reflected in his 3-6 record as a starter and an overall 11-20 record in his career starts. His statistical performance has been under scrutiny, tallying 1,944 yards, six touchdowns, and seven interceptions before losing his QB1 spot.

As Aaron Rodgers made his weekly appearance on the “Pat McAfee” show, he extended his heartfelt support to his backup. He highlighted a positive attitude and predicted a promising future for the QB in the NFL.

“We need a spark, and obviously this is the decision that was made. I feel for Zach. I love Zach. Zach’s such a great kid and I do think he still has a bright future in the league,” he said via ESPN.

Analyzing the broader team context, A-Rod hinted at Wilson potentially being a scapegoat for the Jets’ offensive struggles. The Jets rank poorly in offensive metrics, sitting at 30th in both scoring and yards gained through 11 weeks. The four-time MVP implied that the blame couldn’t solely rest on Wilson’s shoulders as collective effort is required for success on the field.

“This has been a tough go for all of us. A lot of times in these situations, there’s certain guys they’ve got to scapegoat, and I think there’s enough blame to go around at a number of positions. If you’ve got 10 guys doing it right on a play and one guy not, it’s hard to be efficient.”

Wilson’s performance metrics, such as completion percentage and QBR, placed him at the lower echelons among his peers. However, Rodgers continued to advocate for the young star’s potential to thrive, and took partial responsibility for his tough season. The 10-time Pro Bowler expressed regret for the unforeseen circumstances that altered the initial plan, where he would lead, and Zach would learn without the immediate pressure of starting.

“This was obviously not the way any of us thought this was going to go down. It was going to be me and my show, and Zach getting to learn and watch it first-hand, and not having the pressure to go out there and play. So, obviously, this is disappointing. I have some personal guilt around the whole thing. I’m pissed I wasn’t able to play.”

Expressing disappointment and a sense of personal guilt, Aaron Rodgers revealed his frustration at being unable to contribute on the field due to his setback. Nevertheless, he highlighted Wilson’s character and talent while urging the challenging situation was not solely the young signal-caller’s fault but rather a collective outcome influenced by various factors.