Aaron Rodgers injury return odds: Jets quarterback hints he's 'few weeks' away from historically fast comeback from Achilles injury

There were only two good things to take from the New York Jets' 27-6 home loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday night: Gang Green's defense played well yet again, and post-game Aaron Rodgers seemed to hint he would return from his Achilles injury --  believed to be season-ending when it happened Week 1 -- in a few weeks. SportsLine offers odds on when he might play.

The Chargers managed just 191 total yards but won because they sacked Zach Wilson eight times, forced three turnovers and had an 87-yard punt return for a touchdown, the longest in the league this season. L.A. had the third-fewest offensive yards in a win this century.

The New York defense is the first this season to allow less than 200 total yards in consecutive games, but Monday was the sixth game in which the Jets failed to score a touchdown in Zach Wilson's 29 career starts. This is the third time in the last five seasons the Jets have had eight or fewer offensive TD through eight games (also 2019 and 2020). Wilson wasn't picked off Monday but had two lost fumbles and wasn't moving the offense much until the game was out of reach.

"lt felt like [the offensive tempo] was working,"  Jets coach Robert Saleh said. "We moved across midfield twice, right there moving the football. Just self-inflicted wounds. That's the frustrating part."

Now at 4-4 and 11th in the AFC, the Jets are +250 to make the playoffs and -310 to miss. There's absolutely no point in Rodgers returning and potentially suffering a career-ending injury if New York is not in playoff contention. He turns 40 next month. Rodgers was on the sideline Monday and has been throwing before games. A torn Achilles tendon typically requires nine to 12 months of rehab, but Rodgers did undergo some sort of revolutionary treatment to cut that type potentially in half.

Post-game Monday, Chargers safety Derwin James approached Rodgers and asked: "When you coming back, man?" To which Rodgers replied: "Give me a few weeks."

Could Rodgers have been teasing? Playing to the cameras? Quite possibly, but the future Hall of Famer and four-time MVP has been hell-bent on getting back this season. CBS Sports HQ injury expert Marty Jaramillo told CBSSports.com in October that Rodgers is "absolutely" on pace for an unprecedented return this year.

Again, though, Rodgers seeing the field again this year would almost entirely depend on where the Jets are in the standings. They are short favorites this week at the Raiders (who also tried to get Rodgers this offseason) but will be solid dogs Week 11 in Buffalo and Week 12 vs. Miami. Does it make any sense for Rodgers to return in Week 16 or later if the Jets are out of contention?

Via SportsLine oddsmakers: When will Aaron Rodgers play his first game back with the Jets?

• Dec. 10 vs. Houston +450
• Dec. 17 at Miami + 500
• Dec. 24 vs. Washington +600
• Dec. 3 vs. Atlanta +900
• Week 1 in 2024 +1000
• Jan. 7 at Patriots +1200
• Dec. 28 at Cleveland +1500
• Nov. 24 vs. Miami +3000

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