Will Chad Henne return to NFL with New York Jets?

It only took a few moments after Aaron Rodgers first came up injured following a sack by Buffalo Bills pass rusher Leonard Floyd for the conjecture to start. From the jump, numerous names of free agents or potentially available quarterbacks were being tossed about as potential lifebouys were tossed into the Jets waters hoping to save their season from drowning.

Such is the nature of the NFL these days, a league with a dominant grip on pop culture fueled by a 24/7 news cycle of interest. But it's important to note that all of the names bandied about as potential quarterback help for the Jets, only one name has surfaced from NFL insiders in terms of the team actually reaching out to them. And it's a familiar face for Kansas City Chiefs fans.

NFL reporter Jordan Schultz has word that the Jets have checked in on Chad Henne's interest in returning to the league. The last time we saw Henne was hoisting the Lombardi Trophy from Super Bowl LVIII with the Chiefs, and it wasn't long after that he retired for good. It was a great way to say goodbye to Henne, who played in the league for 13 seasons for three franchises: the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Miami Dolphins, and the Chiefs.

The former Chiefs quarterback retired last winter but he's one of the first names linked with the Jets in the wake of Aaron Rodgers' injury.

As for Rodgers, he's now out for the season after suffering a tragic Achilles injury that has called into question his future in the league. No decisions have been made about anything long-term like that, so such overtures are uneducated guesses. For now, however, it's clear the Jets' chances in 2023 will be hinged to a new fixture under center.

Henne is an interesting name on the QB pile because giving him a call means selecting a 38-year-old vet who hasn't been working out—to play at the NFL level, at least—since February. It's also not like Henne retired as a starter who might have something left in the tank either. That signals that the Jets really are moving forward with prospect Zach Wilson in the wake of Rodgers' lost season.

The interest in Henne makes sense from a non-starter perspective, however. He comes with plenty of credibility as a longtime backup behind Patrick Mahomes, a man in the same room as Andy Reid and company for the last few years. Henne was also a savior at key times for the Chiefs when Mahomes was unable to play for short stints. His epic 12-play, 98-yard drive last postseason will forever be a part of the Chiefs' story that championship season.

Will Henne be interested in returning to the game? Will he want to do so with the Jets knowing the position is so mercurial? A return could lead to a very real opportunity to start meaningful games—which may or may not be enticing to Henne at this point.