As Aaron Rodgers rehabs from torn Achilles, doctor offers insight into recovery

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When Aaron Rodgers went down just four days into the NFL season, fans of the New York Jets and of the NFL believed they had seen the last of the four-time MVP until the 2024 season rolled around. 

Rodgers’ torn Achilles is a devastating injury for any athlete, let alone a quarterback in his 19th season set to turn 40 years old in December.

This view shows an Aircast on Aaron Rodgers' left leg. (Dustin Satloff/Getty Images/File)

This past Sunday, prior to New York’s Week 6 game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Rodgers went viral for throwing passes on the MetLife turf nearly five weeks after undergoing an "innovative" surgery.

That surgery, performed by orthopedic surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache, included putting an internal brace on the torn Achilles tendon, which is designed to speed up the rehab process, according to NFL Network.

AARON RODGERS TAKES SWIPE AT ANTHONY FAUCI AS HE TALKS ACHILLES INJURY REHAB

Dr. Bonnie Chien, an orthopedic surgeon at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, spoke with Fox News Digital about the general aspects of an Achilles tear surgery, the rehab process and the timeline for an athlete to return from the injury.

"The idea is that they put stitches, or strong sutures, through the Achilles tendon, and then they drill a hole in the heel bone, in the back, where the Achilles inserts into the heel bone. And then you basically anchor the Achilles within your bone," Chien said of the Achilles procedure that puts an internal brace on the torn Achilles tendon.

"The idea, or the way they advertise the implant, is that it can help you potentially speed up your recovery because instead of