Carolina Panthers edge rusher Julius Peppers seemed to defy the aging process in 2017 when he collected 11 sacks at 37 years old.
With Peppers back for a 17th NFL season after signing a one-year deal Wednesday, it seems like a good time to consider what can reasonably be expected of Peppers at 38.
It’s a tricky exercise because, as Tom Brady has famously demonstrated, there are some players whose fitness regimens and gene pools allow them to continue playing at a high level into their late-30s or even their 40s.
Other players – such as Charles Johnson, for example – see their production fall off dramatically in their 30s amid debilitating injuries.