NFL notes: Jets’ Aaron Rodgers’ goal is to return in mid-December, report says

Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been teasing a return before the end of the 2023 season.

According to NBC Sports, Rodgers’ goal is to return in mid-December. He has missed the last eight games due to an Achilles injury he suffered in the Jets season opener against the Bills.

If his goal is correct, the four-time MVP would return much sooner than expected.

Rodgers returning before the end of the season would be unprecedented. Traditionally, Achilles injuries are season-ending injuries.

But Rodgers underwent a “speed bridge” procedure, designed to help accelerate the rehab process coming off an Achilles tear. Having a speed bridge doesn’t guarantee an earlier return, but Rodgers has been rehabbing extensively trying to return.

After the Jets 27-6 loss to the Chargers last Monday night, Rodgers told L.A. safety Derwin James Jr. that he would return in a few weeks. He later downplayed his comments the next day on “The Pat McAfee Show.”

Rodgers later said in “a few fortnights,” which would be in about six weeks. That would put his return at around the Jets Christmas Eve game against the Commanders.

“I didn’t realize it was going to get caught there,” Rodgers said. “Obviously, that was said with a little tongue and cheek. It would be nice to get back in a couple of weeks, but that’s probably not anywhere of a realistic timeline.

“It could be a few, it could be a lot. It’s more of a phrase as I don’t have a specific timetable. I said it smiling and joking as he’s excited for me to get back on the field at some point.

“Obviously, it’s going to be more than a couple of weeks.”

The Jets certainly could use Rodgers’ help offensively. Gang Green currently ranks 31st in yards and points per game.

Zach Wilson, who replaced Rodgers as the Jets starting quarterback has thrown for 1,600 yards, five touchdowns and five interceptions.

Rams’ Stafford expected to return Sunday

Matthew Stafford is expected to start for the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday against Seattle, coach Sean McVay said.

Stafford missed the Rams' final game before their bye week, a 20-3 loss in Green Bay on Nov. 5. The Super Bowl-winning quarterback sprained a ligament in the thumb on his throwing hand during Los Angeles' loss at Dallas one week earlier.

“He’s making great progress, and so we’re operating with the anticipation and expectation that he is going to be good to go,” McVay said Monday after Stafford participated in the individual portions of the Rams' first practice back from the bye. “He'll be pushing through, but we expect him to be able to start and play and do his thing and lead the way this week.”

Stafford has passed for 2,070 yards with eight touchdowns and seven interceptions while completing 59.7% of his throws this season for the Rams (3-6), who are on a three-game losing streak.

Belichick evaluating every player during bye

This has been a season full of resets for the New England Patriots.

Training camp brought the first chance to put a dismal 2022 campaign behind them.

A win over the Jets in Week 3 was also supposed to serve as a restart following an 0-2 start.

Hopes of yet another mulligan came after a Week 7 win over Buffalo that stopped a 1-5 start.

But Sunday’s 10-6 loss to Indianapolis in Germany not only gave New England its second three-game losing streak of the season, it also is the clearest sign yet that this team’s issues may not be fixable at this point.

The back-footed, severely underthrown interception that Mac Jones tossed in the red zone late in the fourth quarter didn’t just rob his team of a chance to take the lead.

It also brought a season’s worth of futility by the third-year quarterback to an international audience, raising questions about who will have the starting job when the Patriots emerge from this week’s bye.

∎ The New England Patriots released defensive back Jack Jones on Monday after a tumultuous season that began with his arrest for bringing guns into the airport and ended with him unable to earn playing time for the last-place team. Jones, 25, was a fourth-round draft pick in 2022 who played in 13 games last year and four this season, missing the first six with a hamstring injury. The Patriots are 2-8 — last in the AFC East and tied for last in the conference.

Miami RB Achane returns to practice from injury

Miami rookie running back De'Von Achane returned to practice Monday after missing the past four games with a knee injury, opening his 21-day window to be activated from injured reserve.

Achane hasn't played since hurting his knee late in a Week 5 win over the New York Giants.

Coach Mike McDaniel said Achane didn't tear anything in his knee; it was more of a sprain that could have been managed with a brace, but the team thought it was best to place him on injured reserve to allow it to heal fully.

“I just didn’t really envision him being one that would really flourish with a brace," McDaniel said Monday.

“We took the time to make sure that we could get structurally completely strong. We erred on the side of caution with that, but everything seems to be ready to go for today’s practice.”

Browns QB Watson scheduled for MRI on left ankle

Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson will have an MRI on his left ankle after hurting it Sunday in Cleveland's last-second win at Baltimore.

Watson twice rolled his ankle in the first half but stayed in the game and went 14 of 14 for 134 yards after halftime as the Browns (6-3) rallied in the fourth quarter for a 33-31 win. Watson left M&T Bank Stadium in a walking boot.

He said after the game he would be ready this week when the Browns host the Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3).

After twisting his ankle the second time, Watson left the field early to get treatment, and backup P.J. Walker threw a long pass on the final play before halftime.

Coach Kevin Stefanski did not provide any specifics on Watson's injury on Monday but did confirm his QB will have extra image testing done on his ankle.

Jaguars WR Jones arrested

Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Zay Jones was arrested on a misdemeanor domestic battery charge Monday.

Jones was booked into the Duval County Jail on Monday evening and was scheduled to make a first appearance before a judge Tuesday morning. Jail records did not indicate exactly why Isaiah Avery Jones, 28, had been arrested. The jail shows his arrest was for domestic battery causing bodily harm.

“We are aware of the situation and are in the midst of gathering information," the Jaguars said in a statement. "We will have no further comment at this time.”