Jets players are 'excited' to have Aaron Rodgers back around the locker room as QB edges closer to return from his torn Achilles: 'You can't beat that'

Several players on the New York Jets roster expressed how happy they were to have quarterback Aaron Rodgers back in the building. 

Rodgers, who will turn 40 this weekend, took further steps in his recovery this week when he returned to practice after being cleared for 'functional football activity.'

Rodgers tore his Achilles in his Jets debut back on September 11 and is eyeing a potential return before the end of the season if the 4-7 Jets are able to remain in playoff contention.

'I don't think there is any pressure on it,' defensive lineman Solomon Thomas told the New York Post when asked if the team felt additional pressure to win so that Rodgers would return to play. 

'We obviously want to win. We want to make the playoffs and we want Aaron to come back whenever he's ready to play.'

He added: 'There's definitely excitement at this possibility of getting him back. Just excited to have him back in the building. Having the presence of a 19-year Hall of Fame player in the building, you can't beat that.' 

Linebacker Quincy Williams, meanwhile, said that having Rodgers' energy and his extra pair of eyes has been crucial to the team.

'It's great to have him. The biggest thing is, he is a big energy person,' Williams said.

'In practice today, just having his eye on certain keys and stuff like that, it's very huge to have him back and being able to do that in live time.'