Aaron Rodgers finally shares details on mystery trip after missing New York Jets practice

Aaron Rodgers has confirmed that he was enjoying a trip to Egypt during the week of his unexcused absence from a New York Jets mandatory minicamp earlier this summer.

The four-time NFL MVP is on the comeback trail after a torn Achilles in Game 1 of the most recent season ruled him out for the rest of the year. After heading to MetLife Stadium to significant fanfare following 18 terms in Green Bay, he picked up the injury just four snaps into his debut against the Buffalo Bills .

After the unexpected curtailment of his campaign, Rodgers will be hoping to put the sorry set of circumstances behind him in 2024. However, the decision to miss the first practice of the aforementioned mandatory minicamp back in June meant that he was the subject of controversy.

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Speaking to NBC Sports at the American Century Classic, he finally disclosed some details of his time away, saying: "Had a beautiful trip to Egypt. This is like the last marker. Summer’s over on Sunday. Walking up on 18 (18th hole at American Century Championship) is super bittersweet, but it’s fun to be out."

The 40-year-old certainly will be tasked with demonstrating that the his long lay-off has dimmed none of his star power on the field. Updating fans on the state of his fitness, he said: "My Achilles feels good, you know, I felt really good at the end of last year. Then you know, there’s always that kind of plateau part. It’s just about getting back into it. I felt good."

There will likely be no more false starts for the former Packers fan favorite this time around as he returns properly to the Jets' fold for training camp July 23. Speaking previously about his player's absence from the mandatory minicamp, New York head coach Robert Saleh insisted that there was no rift in the camp over his actions.

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In a reassuring message for Jets fans, he confirmed: "Aaron and I are on the exact same page. There's no issue between Aaron or his teammates, for that matter. We addressed it yesterday. It's more of an issue for everyone outside the building than it is inside."

Likewise, Rodgers was clear about his own excitement ahead of his second campaign at MetLife Stadium as he looked forward to finally demonstrating his famed talents next term. Speaking on SiriusXM Mad Dog Radio he insisted: "I love it. We are must-watch TV. And that's pretty obvious.

"Everybody knows that. Whether you love me or hate me, people wanna see me play. They enjoy watching me play. And we are a team to watch this year. Not surprising. Six prime-time games in the first 11 or 12 weeks. I love it. You know, make it difficult."