As the heat of training camp is felt all across the league, 49ers’ TE George Kittle stormed the NFL Network set, unable to contain the game-changing news any longer. Jokingly, he summed up, saying, “I’ve been distraught all day.” Wondering what the commotion is all about? The NFL officially announced on Tuesday that ammonia inhalants are prohibited moving forward. According to the league’s memo, teams are no longer allowed to provide players with ammonia inhalers, capsules, “smelling salts,” or even ammonia in a cup. The ban applies throughout all NFL games and extends to all team personnel. That includes coaches, physicians, trainers, strength and conditioning staff, and others on the sideline. But that is not the entire picture as reported by ESPN reporters.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter posted on X, “It turns out smelling salts are not banned,” leaving fans confused. The initial uproar came from a post by Kalyn Kahler, who later clarified the situation with more detail. “ESPN has obtained a message the NFLPA sent to players Wednesday night – clarifying that the league’s ban on smelling salts ONLY applies to clubs providing it to players. Meaning… BYOSS,” she shared. So while teams can no longer supply them, players are still free to bring their own, making the ban less strict than it first appeared.
It turns out smelling salts are not banned. https://t.co/miBB7yhYEI
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 6, 2025
This has gotten the entire league commenting on the rule. One of the first amongst them is Todd Bowles’ starter QB Baker Mayfield, who recently suffered a contusion to his throwing hand. “He’s got a sore hand,” Bowles informed reporters about his starter. “We gave him the day off. He’s day-to-day. We’re not worried about him.” Tampa Bay’s two straight NFC South titles and a 2023 playoff run made Baker Mayfield’s Super Bowl dreams feel realistic this offseason. Now that he is back on the field in a recent X post featuring a clip from the Up and Adams show, Baker Mayfield offered his take on Kittle’s news. Mayfield said, “Now you just gotta bring your own juice to the party. I’m going to be severely affected to be honest with you.”
Mayfield, clearly surprised by the move, admitted he was “not sure why” the league enacted the ban. However, he did offer one possible explanation. According to the quarterback, the league may be targeting the use of salts to “mask a concussion sometimes.” Whether that’s the true reason or not, the ban adds a surprising new twist to game-day routines for many players.
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