Jets' Aaron Rodgers describes 'frustration, sadness' amid injury recovery

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers acknowledged this week that his recovery from the torn Achilles he suffered in the regular-season opener on Sept. 11 hasn't been all sunshine and rainbows. 

"It's been a grind," Rodgers recently told Marisa Sullivan of People. "Frustration, sadness — a lot of sadness." 

Rodgers played just four snaps before he went down with what was assumed, at the time, to be a campaign-ending setback. However, the future Hall of Famer who turns 40 years old in early December can already drop back into invisible pockets and toss passes even if he's not yet at the jogging phase of his rehabilitation. 

"I felt like I was part of the team," Rodgers said about taking the field at MetLife Stadium ahead of the Jets' 13-10 overtime win over the New York Giants last Sunday. "And when you're away from it and you're injured, most days you don't feel that."

General manager Joe Douglas, head coach Robert Saleh and New York players commented throughout the week on how Rodgers is motivating the 4-3 Jets with his determination to play again this season. While speaking with Sullivan, Rodgers thanked all the people who have "showed up" for him since he underwent surgery days after his injury. 

"[They] brought me food, took care of me, checked on me, FaceTimed me, called me," he explained. "So I'm really thankful for everybody who reached out. It was a tough time and I was in a rough place."

Interestingly, Rodgers added he has "heard from people all over the country, all over the world, who tore their Achilles" over the past two months. 

Rodgers and his teammates know the Jets need more than a home win over the 3-4 Los Angeles Chargers this coming Monday night for Gang Green to remain in the playoff picture until it's learned if the four-time NFL Most Valuable Player will be medically cleared to face live defenses before next summer. Rodgers admitted to Sullivan he's still enduring "a tough rehab," so those hoping he will return to the lineup as soon as Week 15 next month may want to cool their jets a little bit.