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Patriots Accuse Steelers Of Supplying Smelling Salts To $20M Superstar To Hide Concussion Symptoms

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Foxborough, MA – Sep 19, 2025 — The Pittsburgh Steelers’ 21–14 win over the New England Patriots has been overshadowed by fresh controversy. Patriots officials publicly accused the Steelers of providing smelling salts to Aaron Rodgers — their $20 million-per-year superstar quarterback — to mask potential concussion symptoms during the game.

A viral video circulating online shows Rodgers on the sideline cracking open a small vial, taking a sharp inhale, and then returning to the huddle for a pivotal third-down play. According to the Patriots, this act raises suspicions that Pittsburgh staff supplied him the salts to conceal lingering effects from a head impact earlier in the game.

“The rule is clear — no team can provide smelling salts to players,” Patriots owner Robert Kraft said postgame. “When it’s tied to possible concussion symptoms, the matter is even more serious. Player safety and the integrity of the game cannot be compromised.”

Rodgers has a well-documented history of head injuries dating back to his years with the Green Bay Packers and New York Jets:

  • 2010 — Grade 1 concussion, forced to leave mid-game.
  • 2018 — Further concussion concerns, though not formally diagnosed.

While Rodgers has not been officially diagnosed with a concussion since joining the Steelers, his history heightens concerns about long-term health risks such as CTE.

The NFL has yet to issue a formal statement, but if the allegations are substantiated, the Steelers could face substantial fines and disciplinary measures against staff. The game’s outcome itself would not be overturned.

Rodgers declined to directly address the accusations. “I’m here to compete for the Steelers and win football games. That’s my only focus,” he told reporters.

This could mark the first high-profile case under the NFL’s 2025 smelling salts ban — one further complicated by Rodgers’ medical history, raising uncomfortable questions about how far teams are willing to go in pursuit of victory.

Raiders Reunite with a Former Starter to Fortify the Offensive Line
Las Vegas, NV   The Las Vegas Raiders have brought back a familiar face in a move that screams both urgency and savvy: versatile offensive lineman Jermaine Eluemunor is returning to the Silver & Black on a one-year deal (terms not disclosed), reuniting with the franchise where he logged some of the best football of his career and immediately fortifying a position group that has been stretched thin. Eluemunor, 31, started for the Raiders from 2021–2023, showing rare position flexibility across right tackle and guard while anchoring pass protection against premier edge rushers. His technique, anchor, and ability to handle long-arm power made him a steadying force during multiple playoff pushes. After departing Vegas, Eluemunor spent time elsewhere refining his craft, but a confluence of roster needs and scheme familiarity has set the stage for a timely homecoming. For the Raiders—fighting to keep pace in a rugged AFC—this is about stability and fit. Injuries and week-to-week availability on the right side of the line have forced constant shuffling; protection packages have leaned heavily on chips and condensed splits to survive obvious passing downs. Eluemunor’s return allows the staff to plug him at RT or slide him inside at RG, restoring balance to protections and widening the run-game menu (duo, inside zone, and the toss/ pin-pull that Vegas fans love when the edge is sealed). “Jermaine knows who we are and how we want to play,” a team source said. “He brings ballast. Assignment sound, physical, and smart—he raises the floor for the entire unit.” Beyond the X’s and O’s, there’s an unmistakable emotional charge to this reunion. Eluemunor was a locker-room favorite in his previous stint—professional, detail-driven, and accountable. The belief internally is that his presence stabilizes communication on the right side (IDs, slides, and pass-off rules vs. games and simulated pressures), which in turn unlocks more vertical concepts and keeps the quarterback cleaner late in games. On social media, Raider Nation lit up the timeline with a simple refrain: “Welcome back, Jem.” Many fans called the deal the exact kind of “rival-poach, ready-to-play” move a contender makes in October: low friction, high impact, zero learning curve. What it means on the field (immediately): Pass pro: Fewer emergency chips, more five-out releases—OC can re-open deeper intermediate shots without living in max-protect. Run game: Better edge control on toss/duo; more confidence running to the right on money downs. Depth & versatility: One injury doesn’t force a cascade of position changes; Eluemunor can cover two spots with starting-level competency. The timetable? Swift. Because Eluemunor already speaks the language—terminology, splits, cadence rules—he could suit up as early as this weekend if the medicals/check-ins continue to trend positive. The message is clear: the Raiders aren’t waiting around for the line to gel—they’re engineering it. If Jermaine Eluemunor plays to his Raider résumé, this reunion could be the precise mid-season jolt that steadies the offense and keeps the Silver & Black firmly in the postseason race. Raider Nation, the question writes itself: Plug-and-play stopgap—or the catalyst that reclaims the right side