Coming off the injured list

I tweaked my back the other day and was floored. I tried to lift a Christmas box in our basement, heard a crack in my back, and instantly fell to the ground with deep spasms of pain streaking across my lower back.

Um, help.

If I was in an old western movie, I would’ve told the old trail boss to just leave me lying in a ditch, or better yet, shoot me and put me out of my misery. Instead, I grabbed one of the kids old hockey sticks to pull myself to my feet and gingerly walked back upstairs. I told my wife I was taking a break.

I barely got out of bed the rest of the day. When I did get up, I walked like an old man hunched over and shuffling to take each step. If it were up to me, I would’ve stayed in bed for a month.

And then there’s New York Jets Quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Back to the grind

I can’t say I follow the Jets or Rodgers all that closely, but it’s hard not to, he’s been all over the news in recent weeks. Rodgers, who turned 40 over the weekend, returned to practice last week exactly 11 weeks after surgery to repair a torn achilles. Rodgers, who was traded to the Jets in late April after 18 seasons with the Green Bay Packers, ruptured the achilles tendon when he was sacked four snaps into the Jets’ season opener against the Buffalo Bills.

Despite the short amount of time, Rodgers was cleared to start practice last week and could make his return to the field on December 24. If Rodgers does come back later this month, his return would be the quickest ever by an NFL player from such an injury. No player has returned from Achilles surgery before the five-month mark.

Okay, you’re making me sick

I try to not make age a big deal in my life. You can’t turn back the clock, you can’t stop time from marching on, but then I see someone like Rodgers and, of course, I’m beyond amazed. Hello, how is this possible?

I’ve never ruptured my achilles, but I’ve heard from people who have and it’s not an easy injury to come back from, certainly at a professional level. Throw Rodger’s age into the formula and it becomes even more impressive. Rodgers is closer to being 50 than he is to being 20, how is he able to get out onto the practice field and even make this conceivable? It’s just crazy.

What’s next?

Who knows what happens next. The Jets have looked horrible in recent weeks, losing again yesterday and falling to 4-8, so the question of him coming back in December will probably be mute — if they’re out of the playoff mix, there’s no reason for him to risk injury and probably wiser to continue physical therapy to come back stronger next year — but it does make me wonder, will he or won’t he? And when will he start showing his age?

Yes, age does catch up with all of us, even dads with bad backs!

Ouch.