Jets' Robert Saleh noncommittal on Aaron Rodgers return this season

New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh declined to say on Wednesday if Week 1 starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers will be activated or shut down for the rest of the season by next Wednesday's deadline for such a decision. 

"I don’t know," Saleh responded when asked during a news conference about Rodgers' status, per the Jets' website. "I don’t have an answer for you guys on that." 

Rodgers told "The Pat McAfee Show" on Tuesday that there are "still some things that I have to do to be cleared" to face a live defense coming off the torn Achilles the 40-year-old suffered on Sept. 11. 

The future Hall of Famer also indicated he had nothing to do with a Monday report that said he could start for the Jets as soon as their Christmas Eve home game against the Washington Commanders. 

"I know he’s ramping up every day, but as far as getting reps in practice and all that stuff, as far as I’m concerned, it’s all the same," Saleh said about Rodgers possibly doing more work in practice over the next seven days. 

The Jets reportedly will retain Saleh after the season, and Rodgers remains on track to begin the 2024 campaign as the organization's QB1. The ESPN Football Power Index gave the 5-8 Jets a 0.3% chance to make the playoffs as of early Wednesday evening, so logic suggests Saleh would want to keep Rodgers an inactive spectator until springtime workouts begin. 

Gang Green plays at the 9-4 Miami Dolphins this Sunday. On Wednesday, oddschecker listed the Jets as 8.5-point road underdogs for that must-win contest. 

"I really am being genuine when I say he’s in rehab and he’s progressing, and if that bridge comes to us, we’ll cross it," Saleh added about Rodgers possibly playing before Week 18. 

It's unclear if Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas are permitted to protect Rodgers from himself if the Jets fall to the Dolphins, but it also doesn't sound like Rodgers is any closer to playing than he was before New York's win over the Houston Texans this past Sunday.