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Moments before slinging a 68-yard pass into the hands of Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was filmed sniffing what seemed an especially stong smelling salt.
The 41-year-old seemed to wince after giving the salts a whiff, with cameras catching him blinking and staring around the field wide-eyed. But there was no indiciation they did Rodgers' ability to make a play any harm.
Merely seconds later, the quarterback found his tight end, he went over into the end zone for a 68-yard pass that hauled the Steelers level on Thursday night against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Unfortunately for Rodgers, his efforts were ultimately not enough. The Bengals eventually won the game 33-31, the second loss of the season for the Steelers as they fell to 4-2.
The incident involving Rodgers' smelling salts was especially noteable given that the NFL had banned smelling salts earlier this year amid concern over player safety.
It caused unhappiness from players throughout the league - San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle dropped the news in a live interview on NFL TV and asked for a solution to be found.
Aaron Rodgers sniffed some smelling salts before throwing a touchdown pass on Thursday
Rodgers winced after taking a sniff but then threw a touchdown pass to Pat Freiermuth
Kittle gatecrashed the NFL Network's set at the 49ers practice facility and said: 'I honestly just came up here to air a grievance.
'Our team got a memo today that smelling salts and ammonia packets were made illegal in the NFL, and I've been distraught all day.'
But the NFL rules simply prohibited teams offering players the salts. Players can still bring their own to games.
The NFL revealed that the memo sent to teams read: 'In 2024, the FDA issued a warning to companies that produce commercially available ammonia inhalants (AIs), as well as to consumers about the purchase and use of AIs, regarding the lack of evidence supporting the safety or efficacy of AIs marketed for improving mental alertness or boosting energy.
'The FDA noted potential negative effects from AI use. AIs also have the potential to mask certain neurologic signs and symptoms, including some potential signs of concussion.
'As a result, the NFL Head, Neck, and Spine Committee recommended prohibiting the use of AIs for any purpose during play in the NFL.'
The Steelers, meanwhile, return to the field on October 26 against the Green Bay Packers.
