Jets optimistic on Aaron Rodgers' calf injury, Breece Hall's rehab - ESPN

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers, nursing a calf injury, threw on the side and spent most of Wednesday's practice coaching up teammates. Running back Breece Hall was off on a side field, rehabbing his surgically repaired knee.

Rodgers, who strained his right calf last week, is expected to return by next week. Hall has a ways to go, but the Jets envision him taking handoffs from Rodgers when they open the season Sept. 11 against the Buffalo Bills.

«I'm very optimistic,» coach Robert Saleh said of Hall's potential availability for Week 1. «I don't want to jinx it» — he knocked on his wood podium — «but, I mean, the kid's already hitting 22 [mph] on the GPS. He looks freaking good.»

Hall and Rodgers are arguably the two most important players on the Jets' offense. They might not practice together until late August — Hall will be limited in training camp — but the goal is to make sure the backfield tandem is clicking for the regular season, not the preseason.

Rodgers has missed four straight practices after tweaking his right calf while warming up for the second practice on May 23. He downplayed the injury, saying it was nothing serious. The hope is that he returns for the next OTA session (Friday), according to Saleh.

«Yeah, he's fine, just doing a bunch of rehab,» said Saleh, adding they're «just hoping to ease him back in. Hopefully, [we] get him full on Friday, for sure next week.»

Rodgers was engaged during practice, staying close to the action in each period. At times, he was seen giving instruction to young receivers and running backs. During warm-ups, off to the side, he put on a passing show, making 50-yard throws to a member of the staff. After a dozen or so rockets, he moved 10 yards