Joe McKnight has been dealing with cramping issues since arriving at camp.
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Overheated and getting cramps, Joe McKnight has turned to a childhood favorite of the summer to help stay on the practice field: a popsicle.
Last Thursday, McKnight failed his physical prior to the start of training camp, the result of what he said were cramps that caused him to tap out of the conditioning test. He completed the physical the next day but struggled the first couple days of practice. At 3.3 percent body fat, he said that he cramps easily and must hydrate more than others.
So on Wednesday midway through practice as McKnight kneeled to watch drills, a member of the training staff ran over to him with an ice-cold treat.
“The popsicle is big with other guys on the team, I just never use them. I never used to like them,” McKnight said. “Everybody takes them out here. I’ve never been good with the flavor taste in my mouth while I’m working. Today I tried it; it gave me a good boost.”
It was just one day with the popsicle but McKnight was pleased with the results. He went through the entirety of training camp and said he “never felt better.”
“It went good; I felt good,” McKnight said. “Yesterday, I went out running and came back and felt good today.”
The popsicle, he said, was a grape one and he will likely try it again on Thursday.
He hasn’t changed his diet on order to add more body fat and he refuses to take an IV to help his recuperation. But he has been steadily taking in more fluids during and following practice.
“I’ve been overdoing the fluid intake, going over and beyond. If I have to drink eight bottles, I’ve been drinking 18 bottles after practices,” McKnight said.
“I don’t know how much but I’ve been drinking a lot.”
Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer for updates from training camp.
