NY Jets news: Aaron Rodgers has surgery, Jets looking to add OL depth

NY Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers underwent successful surgery to repair his torn Achilles on Thursday, as announced by Rodgers on his Instagram. The surgery was performed by the world-renowned Dr. Neil ElAttrache.

Dr. ElAttrache is one of the best sports doctors in the world, and he most notably repaired Kobe Bryant's Achilles tear as well as Cam Akers' Achilles tear. Akers is notable because he miraculously returned in just under six months.

Of course, it's unreasonable to expect Rodgers to be back by February, but there's no reason why he shouldn't be 100 percent by the start of the 2021 season. If all goes according to plan, he should get some reps in during training camp if he does, indeed, decide to return.

It'll be a long road to recovery for the four-time MVP, but Rodgers wasted little time undergoing surgery with the trust of one of the best doctors in the business.

Other NY Jets news

Jets exploring OT depth options

Lost in the chaos of this week was the fact that the Jets quietly worked out four veteran offensive tackles on Tuesday. There has been no signing to date, but the Jets are clearly exploring their options.

Among those the Jets brought in for a visit were veterans D.J. Fluker, Cameron Erving, Dennis Kelly, and Rashaad Coward. Kelly notably crossed paths with Jets offensive line coach Keith Carter during their time together in Tennessee.

Fluker is the most interesting of the group, given that he hasn't appeared in an NFL game since 2020. The former first-round pick has reportedly lost almost 50 pounds and is looking to make an NFL comeback.

The Jets already have four offensive tackles on their active roster and rookie Carter Warren on the injured reserve. Still, it never hurts to explore additional options. The Jets are keeping an eye on a few free-agent veteran tackles.

Xavier Gipson wins Rookie of the Week

The Jets have made collecting Rookie of the Week belts a weekly pastime over the last couple of years, and that trend continued on Thursday as rookie wide receiver/return man Xavier Gipson was awarded the first Pepsi Zero Sugar Rookie of the Week of the season.

Gipson, of course, made his presence felt on the very last play of Monday night's game, returning a punt 65 yards in overtime to secure a dramatic walk-off win for the Jets.

The undrafted rookie beat out the likes of Anthony Richardson, Bijan Robinson, Zay Flowers, Puka Nacua, and others to secure the award. The Jets won a ridiculous 10 of the 18 Rookie of the Week awards last season, and they're now 1-for-1 in 2023.

If there's one thing Jets fans are going to do, it's that they'll always vote for their rookies. Even amidst the chaos of the last week, this fan base never misses an opportunity to support their players.