Commanders vs. Jets NFL Week 16 odds, props: Aaron Rodgers activated off injured reserve but will not play again this season; Trevor Siemian likely to start Sunday

The day that New York Jets fans have been waiting for since the night of Sept. 11 has arrived, quarterback Aaron Rodgers will be activated off injured reserve after tearing his Achilles tendon in his first drive as a Jet. But the move is simply a formality so Rodgers can finish out the year practicing with the team. He will not play in the final three games with the Jets (5-9) eliminated from the playoffs. It likely will be Trevor Siemian under center Sunday vs. Washington with Zach Wilson in concussion protocol. New York is -3 on the SportsLine consensus for the meaningless game.

Coach Robert Saleh said this morning that Rodgers will be added to the active roster to keep practicing as part of his rehab process. It does mean someone will have to be booted off the 53-man roster, but at this point that hardly matters. Simply having Rodgers around could motivate Gang Green the rest of the way and give Jets fans at least a bit of hope for 2024. He always had targeted returning for this game if the Jets were still in playoff contention, but those hopes faded in last Sunday's blowout loss in Miami.

"I do feel like in the next three to four weeks it would be very possible to get to 100%," Rodgers said Tuesday. "If I was 100% today I'd definitely be pushing to play. Being medically cleared as 100% healed is not realistic at 14 weeks."

One could argue that because Rodgers had so convinced the Jets that he could return from Achilles surgery faster than any player in NFL history it cost the team the season, as it didn't add anyone of significance to that quarterback room after Rodgers went down in Week 1. Siemian is not someone of significance.

For a point of comparison, thanks to The Ringer: In 2021, then-Rams running back Cam Akers, who was 22 years old when his injury occurred, underwent the same "speed bridge" procedure as Rodgers and returned to play after five months. That's believed to be the fastest an NFL player has returned from a torn Achilles. Rodgers turned 40 earlier this month.

Yet responsibility also falls on Jets GM Joe Douglas, who decided to roll with the much-maligned Wilson instead of bringing in a true starter. The Jets had every opportunity to trade for someone like Joshua Dobbs, or to reunite with Joe Flacco, who has played well over the last few weeks with Cleveland.

Wilson had one of the best games of his otherwise hugely disappointing NFL career in Week 14, leading the Jets to a 30-6 upset of Houston. He then started off last Sunday's game in Miami 4-for-11 for 26 yards before leaving in the second quarter with a concussion. Wilson is still in the protocol. Quarterbacks have generally not played the week after suffering a concussion this season.

The journeyman Siemian relieved Wilson vs. Miami and was 14-for-26 for 110 yards and two picks. New York hit rock bottom offensively with 103 total yards of offense and was shut out for the first time since losing 26-0 at Denver in Week 3 of the 2021 season. Siemian, in his second tour with the Jets (also 2019), is 13-17 as a starter in his career.

Frankly, if Rodgers wasn't such a big supporter of Saleh's, the coach would be on a scorching-hot seat, but most believe he will return. Offshore book BetOnline lists Saleh at -1000 to be New York's coach to open next season with No at +550. Offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett is Rodgers' buddy but still might get fired with how bad the unit has been.

Washington (4-10) is also playing out the string, and it all but surely will be the final road game of coach Ron Rivera's tenure. While new owner Josh Harris hasn't officially said Rivera won't be back, it's fait accompli. Rivera is the -200 favorite at BetOnline to be the next coach fired. Expect Harris to chase some big-name coaches like Bill Belichick, Jim Harbaugh or Mike Tomlin if he leaves the Steelers. 

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