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FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — A dash of cayenne pepper may have added some enthusiasm to Aaron Rodgers’ recovery.
The quarterback for the New York Jets is gearing up for a swift turnaround as the team is set to face the Houston Texans at home on Thursday night. At 40 years old, Rodgers has been nursing several injuries during the Jets’ challenging 2-6 season, including a sprained ankle, knee pain, and tightness in his hamstring.
Thanks to a simple yet impactful remedy suggested by 38-year-old punter Thomas Morstead, Rodgers feels encouraged about breaking their five-game losing streak. “T-Mo shared a little fountain of youth that he has been using for some time,” a cheerful Rodgers remarked. “It’s all legal, of course. He has been mixing cayenne pepper with water, and he offered me some before the game.”
He added, “I did feel pretty good, but I’ve been hyping him up about how that might be why I’m doing better. I’m not exactly sure how much that contributes, though.”
Cayenne pepper is thought to have various health benefits, including support for metabolic and digestive well-being.
Rodgers certainly needs to inject some flavor into a rather subdued performance so far this season. Despite throwing for 12 touchdowns, he has also thrown seven interceptions in just eight games — close to matching the six interceptions he had during his initial starting season with Green Bay in 2008. His mobility has also been limited due to past injuries, notably a torn Achilles tendon sustained just four plays into last year’s opener.
Regarding his condition, Rodgers stated, “My left Achilles has been fantastic thanks to my doctor and the rehabilitation I undertook. However, the rest of my body hasn’t fared quite as well, but thankfully, that Achilles hasn’t posed any issues.”
After the Jets’ recent 25-22 defeat against New England, Patriots nose tackle Davon Godchaux shared that he observed a change in Rodgers. “I think he’s struggling at the moment. To see a Hall of Fame quarterback having a tough time is tough, but a win against him sure looks good on your resume,” Godchaux commented. “He doesn’t look like he can move well at all. I could probably run him down.”
Rodgers, upon being informed of Godchaux’s observations, agreed with the assessment. “He’s probably right. I was in pain, but I feel much better today.”
He outlined his recovery routine, which consists of rehabilitation at the team’s facility followed by additional sessions at home. “I’m prioritizing my health constantly,” he explained. “In the game, I was only hit a couple of times and got sacked once. I didn’t really move around much, which was likely a contributing factor. I expect to be more active this week. I plan on being under center and hope to regain my swift speed.”
The Jets conducted walkthrough practices on Monday, where Rodgers was limited due to knee and hamstring concerns, but he was noted as a full participant the following day.
Interim coach Jeff Ulbrich mentioned that there hasn’t been any discussion regarding resting Rodgers for a game or two to recuperate fully. Ulbrich expressed no worries about Rodgers’ health ahead of the short turnaround. “Had he come out feeling worse, I might have been concerned,” Ulbrich stated. “Fortunately, this is one of the games where he exited without additional injuries, so his evaluation afterward was promising.”
In terms of kicking, Ulbrich noted that the Jets have not yet confirmed who will take on that role following Greg Zuerlein’s missed field goal and extra point against New England. With Zuerlein missing six of 15 field goal attempts this season, the team is conducting a two-day competition among several kickers to find a suitable replacement for the upcoming game against Houston. Ulbrich emphasized the importance of “synergy” between the kicker, long snapper, and holder during this condensed timeframe. Zuerlein was also reported as a limited participant due to a knee issue unrelated to kicking.
Injury notes include wide receiver Allen Lazard (chest injury), right guard Alijah Vera-Tucker (ankle), defensive lineman Leki Fotu (knee), linebacker C.J. Mosley (neck), and safeties Tony Adams (hamstring) and Ashtyn Davis (concussion), all of whom were considered non-participants for the second consecutive day.
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