Aaron Rodgers has a new elixir he hopes helps turn back the clock.
The 40-year-old quarterback is dealing with an ankle issue, sore knee and hamstring tightness ahead of Thursday night's game against the Houston Texans. However, he said Tuesday that a cayenne pepper and water concoction suggested by veteran punter Thomas Morstead has him feeling better on a short week.
"T-Mo gave me a little fountain of youth he said he's been taking for a while," a smiling Rodgers said, via The Associated Press. "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 potential benefits, including helping with metabolic and gastrointestinal health.
Rodgers' arm is fine as he ages, but like most QBs, the lower half has been the issue coming off an Achilles injury. The four-time MVP doesn't maneuver the pocket as well as he once did, the plays on the move are fewer and further between, and he doesn't want to be hit, leading to quick passes.
After Gang Green's 25-22 loss in New England on Sunday, Patriots 330-pound defensive tackle Davon Godchaux said he saw an aging 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 didn't dispute Godchaux's comments.
"He's probably right," the quarterback said. "Yeah, I was hurtin'. But feel better today."
Rodgers feels better thanks to his continued routine rehab -- and a little cayenne pepper water.
"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."
With the Jets' season floundering after a fifth consecutive loss put them at 2-6, Gang Green desperately needs the QB to play like an MVP on Thursday night to keep hope alive.
