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via Imago
Image Credits: Imago
![](https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/imago1024267087h.jpg)
via Imago
Image Credits: Imago
NFL players are also human. While most fans tend to forget this simple fact, father time often catches up, even to the most elite athletes. Over the years, NFL fans have familiarized themselves with many injuries such as ACL tears and torn hamstrings, but what about something that affects the average person?
One such situation has presented itself in front of Eagles’ star, Jason Kelce. Kelce is a family man and loves cherishing every moment with them. And the 35-year-old Super Bowl champion’s time in the NFL might be in the final chapter, as Jason recently revealed a discomfort that has been bothering him since the first running drill of the offseason.
Jason Kelce is hurting
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The Kelce brothers made history, facing off against each other in the Super Bowl LVII game this year. While Travis Kelce is still hoping to continue adding to his resume, the possibility of retirement is slowly creeping up on his older brother, Jason. During his podcast, New Heights, the Philadelphia Eagles center shared a personal episode that even surprised his Pro Bowler brother.
“Did you know your foot could get arthritis? I thought arthritis was like limited to like joints.” expressed a surprised Jason Kelce. To which his brother, Travis, replied, “Yeah, well, there are a few joints down there.”
However, Jason Kelce was not satisfied with such a response. “Yeah, but it’s not the ankle, and I thought like you’d get arthritis in your ankle. I was doing one of the first running drills this offseason. And I was like, ‘I think I might have got like a stress fracture in my foot’,” he said.
Turns out arthritis is not that uncommon as 1 in 4 people suffer from them. Even in the USA, 24% of all adults, or 58.5 million people, have arthritis. And the demographic is fairly widespread as the ages range from 18 to 64 years. While arthritis is not that common among athletes, the stress they put their bodies through must have something to do with it.
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NFL players age considerably faster
Just a year back, Harvard Medical School unearthed that NFL players age nearly a decade faster than the general population and suffer from arthritis and high blood pressure from as early as their twenties. The study concluded that NFL players also looked older than their biological age.
The researchers took into account the responses of 4000 living former players and cross-referenced that with the data obtained from the civilian sample population. The players were also tallied on the basis of age, race, and stature. And the conclusion was fairly alarming, “They’re almost 10 years ahead of the general population.” Rachel Grashow, director of epidemiological research initiatives with the Football Players Health Study, said.
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Jason Kelce is only 35 and still performing at a top level, protecting franchise QB Jalen Hurts. And the NFL world hopes for an assessment and cure of his ailment for a prolonged career in the league.
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