During the NFL offseason last year, the New York Jets went all-in in their attempt to become a legitimate Super Bowl contender in the AFC, as they made a blockbuster trade with the Green Bay Packers to acquire four-time NFL MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

The trade sent shockwaves throughout the NFL as the Jets now had what was perceived to be the missing piece to the championship puzzle, as he could improve an offense that would complement an already talented defense.

Unfortunately for New York, disaster struck in Week 1 against the division-rival Buffalo Bills, with Rodgers going down with a season-ending Achilles injury, derailing any hopes of being a contender in a highly competitive conference.

With Rodgers back to full strength on his surgically repaired leg, the quarterback is ready to get back to work and to get his team back to contender status heading into the 2024 NFL season.

Even with Rodgers back in the fold, there are some doubts about whether he’ll be the same player, especially coming off such a severe injury at an advanced age.

ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky put it perfectly recently on “NFL on ESPN” by stating that the Jets’ success will be determined by whether the squad can stay healthy.

“They don’t have a talent issue,” Orlovsky said. “They have a health unknown.”

With the Jets’ season going down the tubes after Rodgers was injured last year, the same thing could happen this time around, as its fate is directly linked to whether the future Hall of Famer can remain healthy and productive.

Fortunately for the Jets, if Rodgers is healthy and resembles the superstar of old, New York will be a force to be reckoned with and quite possibly a legitimate contender in the AFC during the 2024 campaign.