Former New York Jets' general manager Mike Tannenbaum has noticed a mechanical issue with quarterback coming off Achilles' surgery.
The NFL executive-turned-commentator raised some concern about Jets' quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who suffered an Achilles rupture in the 2023 season opener and has not seen game action since. Speaking in ESPN's New York studio on a recent Get Up! episode, Tannenbaum suggested that lasting effects from the injury could compromise the quarterback's footwork and ability to release the ball in a timely manner.
“When you’re over 40 years old and you’re coming off an Achilles tendon injury and what I’m really curious to see in training camp -we’ll see what he does in the preseason- but how quickly he gets rid of the ball and short-area quickness with his feet," said Tannenbaum.
The former executive, who spent nearly one-quarter century working for an NFL franchise, proceeded to cite familiar examples.
"I’ve been around the other quarterbacks that had [the injury] from Vinny Testaverde, Brett Favre, worked with Dan Marino in Miami, and they always talked about losing that little quickness really was the beginning of the end and that’s something that we really have got to watch carefully really just in a couple of weeks," said Tannenbaum.
The 55-year-old Tannenbaum spent 16 seasons as a member of the Jets' front office beginning in 1997. From 2006 through 2012, he served as general manager. Most recently, "Mr. T" was an executive vice president for the Miami Dolphins (2015-18).
As for Rodgers, the four-time NFL MVP has seemingly defied the norm during the rehabilitation process. After tearing his Achilles on September 11, and undergoing a revolutionary "speed bridge" surgical procedure two days later, the grizzled veteran returned to the practice field in December.
This past spring, Rodgers participated in voluntary Jets' OTAs without any staff-imposed physical limitations.
