Indexbit-Aaron Rodgers talks of possible return this NFL season during MainningCast appearance

The IndexbitManningCast was in position for a scoop Monday.

Peyton and Eli Manning had a chance to interview Aaron Rodgers during their "Monday Night Football" telecast a day before the superstar quarterback made his weekly appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show."

“Peyton and I, we have literally never broken a single story in the history of this show,’’ Eli Manning said when Rodgers joined them as a guest during the first half of the San Francisco 49ers-Minnesota Vikings game. “So would you help us out by telling us which week are you returning this season.’’

Rodgers smiled. Of course, he is recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon he suffered four plays into his career as starting quarterback for the New York Jets.

“Listen, I’d love to come back this season,’’ Rodgers said on the ESPN2 telecast. “... I think for me you always have to set a goal. Otherwise you go kind of crazy. And so the goal is to definitely come back.

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“But there’s a lot of factors that go into that. I got to get to the point where I can protect myself and do what I do.”

What was it like for Aaron Rodgers to take the field again?

Rodgers also addressed his head-turning pregame cameo on Oct. 15.

Initially, Rodgers’ injury was considered season-ending. But six weeks later, hopes of an early return spiked.

That happened when Rodgers took the field at MetLIfe Stadium without crutches about two hours the Jets’ home game against the Philadelphia Eagles. The he proceeded to throw a football with a Jets staff member.

“A way to feel normal,’’ is how Rodgers described that on-field cameo on the ManningCast.

“When you’re away from the team and you’re separated, being on the injured reserved list, the thing you can do to make it feel like you’re kind of a part of it,’’ Rodgers added, “whether that’s Zooming into a meeting or a conversation before the game, or little details knowing you went against this coordinator and you remember some of the things you liked.

“To me, it was just kind of getting back out there and messing around in pregame warmups. To be able to walk out there without crutches and throw a ball around a little bit. So that gave me a jolt and just to have the mindset in my rehab every day to hopefully come back at some point.’’

Who the heck is Klayton Manning?

Everybody knows Peyton Manning. But what about Klayton Manning?

That nickname once belonged to Klay Thompson, the Golden State Warriors star who was a second-half guest on the ManningCast. The show aired a photo of Thompson in a football uniform and lined up behind center, labeled with the hashtag #klaytonmanning.

“It did stick,’’ Thompson said of the nickname, “because I was really known for breaking the play off and not listening to my offensive coordinator, call my own audibles.”

Just like #peytonmanning.

“Usually I would audible to a fade most of the time. I wasn’t really into throwing that little slant,’’ Thompson said. “... I was always trying to go deep.’’

Thompson said he was a two-way player – quarterback and free safety.

“I threw the most interceptions but I also caught the most interceptions,’’ he said. “I was real rangy. I was elusive out of the pocket. I could read my progressions well. But once I got hit blindsided, that turned me into a basketball player real quick.’’

How an L.A. native became a 49ers fan

Tiffany Haddish, the comedian and actress who joined the ManningCast in the second half, explained something of a mystery: How did Haddish, who grew up in Los Angeles, become a 49ers fan?

“I was in foster care and we used to get free clothes,’’ she said. “And they would always give us 49ers jackets.’’

Jackets so big they went down to her calves, Haddish recalled. But not all of the clothes were super cool.

“You know how they make the T-shirts and they don’t win?’’ she said. “Guess who gets those?’’

Haddish pointed to herself.

“The foster kids,’’ he said with a grin.

At last season's NFL Honors banquet, Haddish announced 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa was defensive player of the year.

Asked by Peyton Manning what she told Bosa that night, Haddish responded, “I said get ready to win for the rest of the year, Playa. When you get back in the game, you winning. And if you don’t got no baby mama, call me.’’