A little cayenne pepper might have given Aaron Rodgers a boost.
The New York Jets quarterback is getting ready for a quick game on Thursday night at home against the Houston Texans. At 40 years old, Rodgers has been dealing with injuries during the Jets’ tough 2-6 start, including a sprained ankle, a sore knee, and tightness in his hamstring.
But thanks in part to a spicy drink suggested by 38-year-old punter Thomas Morstead, Rodgers feels prepared to help the Jets break their five-game losing streak.
“T-Mo gave me a little fountain of youth he said he’s been taking for a while,” a smiling Rodgers said Tuesday. “All legal, of course. … He’s been taking like cayenne pepper and water, so he gave me some before the game.
“Felt pretty good, but I’ve been kind of gassing him up that that’s why I’m feeling so good. I’m not sure how much that’s playing a factor.”
Cayenne pepper is thought to have several possible benefits, including helping with metabolism and stomach health.
Rodgers could certainly use some excitement in what has been a slow start. He has thrown 12 touchdown passes but has also been intercepted seven times in eight games—six of which match his career high during his first season as a starter with Green Bay in 2008.
And due to his leg problems—he tore his Achilles tendon in the same leg just four plays into last year’s season opener—Rodgers hasn’t been able to move around on the field as well as he used to.
“As far as my body’s been concerned, my left Achilles, thanks to Doc and the rehab I did, it’s felt incredible,” Rodgers said. “The rest of my body hasn’t held up as well, but that (Achilles tendon) hasn’t been an issue, thankfully.”
After New York’s 25-22 loss at New England on Sunday, Patriots nose tackle Davon Godchaux, who weighs 330 pounds, told reporters he saw a difference in Rodgers.
“Yeah, I think he’s struggling right now,” Godchaux said. “Just a Hall of Fame quarterback like that, hate to see him go out that way, but always gonna take a win against him, look good on your resume.
“But, yeah, he definitely don’t look the same. You just don’t know if he could move back there. I can run him down and catch him. He don’t look mobile at all.”
Rodgers heard Godchaux’s comments and agreed. “He’s probably right,” the quarterback said. “Yeah, I was hurtin’. But feel better today.” Rodgers explained that his daily routine includes rehab at the team’s facility and more rehab at home.
“I’m kind of taking care of myself nonstop,” he said. “And if you look at the game, you know, I only got hit a couple of times. I got sacked once. I didn’t really move a whole lot. That was probably part of it. But I expect to be able to do a lot, a lot more this week.
“I’ll be under center and hopefully be back to my faster-than-Godchaux speed.”
The Jets had walkthrough practices on Monday, when Rodgers was estimated to be a limited participant due to knee and hamstring problems, and again on Tuesday, when he was listed as a full participant.
Interim coach Jeff Ulbrich said there have been no talks about possibly sitting Rodgers for a game or two so he can fully recover. Ulbrich also had no worries about Rodgers’ health with the upcoming quick game.
“I might have, had he come out of the game feeling worse than he had,” Ulbrich said. “And this is fortunately one of the games he came out of it no worse for the wear. So postgame was one of his better evaluations. So from that standpoint, very fortunate.”
