NFL bounceback candidates: Jayden Daniels, Malik Nabers headline players most likely to return to form in 2026

NFL bounceback candidates: Jayden Daniels, Malik Nabers headline players most likely to return to form in 2026 originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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With every NFL season comes surprises.

With the amount of parity across the league — including five different Super Bowl champions in the last six seasons — a few injuries or bad weeks can quickly derail a season. But 2025 is in the rearview mirror. Another Week 1, which opens with Seahawks vs. Patriots on Sept. 9, is a new opportunity to set higher expectations. 

Whether due to recovery from a significant injury, or simply just poor performance on the field in 2025, plenty of NFL stars are poised for an improved 2026 season. From superstar quarterbacks coming off season-ending injuries, to a likely future Hall of Fame wide receiver coming off a down year, there are bounceback candidates galore.

Here are 12 NFL players who are set up for a better 2026 season than they had in 2025.

MORE:Abdul Carter, Travis Hunter among best NFL breakout candidates for 2026

NFL bounceback candidates 2026

Jayden Daniels, QB, Commanders

It’s been a tale of two much different seasons in Jayden Daniels’ young NFL career. In 2024, he had one of the best rookie seasons for a quarterback ever. In 2025, injuries prevented him from finding any kind of momentum in a lost year for Washington. This coming season should be telling about which version of Daniels is here to stay.

A healthy Daniels in 2024 was the engine of the Commanders, throwing for 3,568 yards and rushing for 891 as he immediately threatened Lamar Jackson as the NFL’s best dual-threat quarterback. A trip to the NFC Championship Game appeared to set a new standard for Washington, with Daniels providing real hope to a franchise that has needed some for a long while.

In Week 2 of 2025, though, Daniels suffered a knee sprain that kept him out two weeks. In his Week 5 return, he began dealing with a hamstring strain, keeping him out another game. And in Week 9, Daniels went down with a gruesome dislocated elbow injury, which he did return from, but was ultimately ruled out for the remainder of the season by Week 15.

After missing 10 games last year, health permitting, Daniels is bounce to be better in 2026. The Commanders need him at his best if they’re going to be a true NFC East threat.  

Kyler Murray, QB, Vikings

Kyler Murray’s career trajectory since going No. 1 to the Cardinals in the 2018 NFL Draft has slowly fallen — and this offseason, it reached a new rock bottom. Murray, once named the Offensive Rookie of the Year and a Pro Bowl selection in 2020 and 2021, was released by Arizona after seven seasons after being out-played by Jacoby Brissett at points in 2025.

Fortunately for Murray, he appears to have found the perfect home for quarterbacks in need of a career revival. It won’t come easily, but the Vikings have already provided an ideal scenario for Kirk Cousins, Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones to bounce back in some fashion. The blueprint is laid out for Murray to do the same in 2026.

Playing on a one-year deal, Murray should be plenty motivated — something that’s been questioned in the past — to perform well in Minnesota under Kevin O’Connell. He’s not looking to bounce back from injury as much as poor 2025 performance; Murray struggled to keep the Cardinals’ offense flowing when on the field.

If Murray plays well this season, he may earn himself a significant payday next spring. If he doesn’t, he may become a backup. The former No. 1 pick has a lot riding on his 2026 performance, but after being named in QB1 in Minnesota, Murray has the weapons and system to thrive. 

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Dec 14, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) throws a pass during the second half against the Los Angeles Chargers at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

Patrick Mahomes, QB, Chiefs

The football world knows who Patrick Mahomes is when he’s on the field: a winner. As he’s aged, Mahomes has slowly transitioned from a flashy, big-armed star quarterback into one who will do whatever it takes to win, including using his legs. But Mahomes was asked to do a bit too much for Kansas City in 2025 — and it cost them. 

Not only did the Chiefs miss the playoffs for the first time in Mahomes’ time as a starter, but he suffered a torn ACL in December, adding salt to the wound. After a long offseason of recovery, Mahomes is anticipated to play for most of the 2026 season. And while recovery from a torn ACL in 2026 isn’t nearly as career-defining as it once was, there will be questions for Mahomes to answer.

Will he be athletic enough to move around in the pocket or run when needed? Can he still maximize the talent within the offense, making throws that few other quarterbacks can make? It’d be unfair to expect anything but excellence from Mahomes at this point, but his return from injury makes this a critical year.

Even before his injury in 2025, Mahomes wasn’t quite the same star. One way or another, the expectation is that a healthy he can bounce back from career-lows in completion percentage (62.7%), wins as the starter (6) and quarterback rating (89.6). 

Saquon Barkley, RB, Eagles

By no means was Saquon Barkley “bad” in 2025 — he played in 16 of 17 games, rushing for 1,140 yards and seven touchdowns. Those numbers continued to rank among the best running backs in the league. He’s a bounceback candidate, however, because of how 2025 compared to 2024.

Two seasons ago, Barkley was arguably the most impactful offensive weapon in the NFL, rushing for 2,005 yards and 13 touchdowns in the regular season before helping guide the Eagles to a Super Bowl win. He was rewarded with a reworked contract, stamped as a superstar after struggling with injuries late in his Giants tenure.

There are plenty of reasons to believe Barkley will be better this fall than he was in 2025, though. With a new offensive coordinator in Philadelphia and A.J. Brown gone, there should only be more of an emphasis on his talent’s in the run game — and Barkley’s abilities as a receiver won’t go unnoticed either. The Eagles will need him to help replace Brown’s lost production.

Barkley was also abnormally inefficient in the red zone last season, scoring his fewest total touchdowns (9) in a season with at least 13 games played since 2021. Regression back to the mean would assume Barkley can find paydirt a few more times in 2026.

Barkley wasn’t as invincible last year as he proved in Year 1 with the Eagles, but the signs are there for something in between those seasons in 2026.

MORE: Most notable players cut from NFL rosters

Ashton Jeanty, RB, Raiders

Can you “bounce back” after a rookie season? If so, Ashton Jeanty figures to be better in Year 2. With one year of experience under his belt in Las Vegas, the former Heisman Trophy runner-up should have much better numbers in 2026, showcasing what he’s capable of in the pros after an all-time season at Boise State in 2024.

Jeanty was inefficient as a rookie, averaging 3.7 yards per carry en route to 975 rushing yards and 10 total touchdowns. Notably, he did flash a real impact as a pass catcher, with half of those touchdowns coming through the air. And now, there could be a few more lanes opened within a Raiders offense that should look improved.

If there’s one thing that new Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak excelled at as an offensive coordinator, it was getting the most talented players the ball. In Las Vegas, that should mean a whole lot of Brock Bowers and Jeanty this year. Kubiak’s playcalling is a big plus for Jeanty’s chances of better performance in his sophomore campaign.

Las Vegas’ quarterback situation also figures to be better than 2025, when Geno Smith threw 17 interceptions. Naturally, Kirk Cousins and Fernando Mendoza taking care of the ball a bit more should mean more opportunities for Jeanty.

A preseason injury scare could throw a small wrench in things, but after managing solid numbers in a weak Raiders offense as a rookie, Jeanty should continue his ascent to stardom.

Justin Jefferson, WR, Vikings

Don’t blame Justin Jefferson for his full-season career-lows in receptions (84), yards (1,048) and touchdowns (2) in 2025. A wide receiver can only be as good as his quarterback situation, a lesson repeatedly showcased across NFL history — and the Vikings’ quarterback play in 2025 was not good.

With J.J. McCarthy completing just 57.6% of his passes with 12 interceptions in 10 games, he made Carson Wentz’s 65.1% completion mark and five interceptions in five games look adequate. For a Vikings team that typically rolls out elite quarterback play one way or another, it was a significant disappointment. When Jefferson was getting the ball, he wasn’t being set up to succeed.

The star wideout, undoubtedly on a Hall of Fame trajectory, is far too talented to have consecutive “down” years. Jefferson has set the bar high for his annual production, but when he’s healthy and getting accurate targets, he puts up huge numbers, something that should return in 2026.

That isn’t to say the Vikings’ quarterback situation is drastically improved — Murray may not be perfect, and he’s had issues getting his top receivers getting the ball in the past. But nearly anything is better that Minnesota’s 2025 passers. Assuming he can just get the football more often, Jefferson is an easy candidate to bounce back. 

MORE: Deshaun Watson, Zay Flowers headline most overpaid NFL players in 2026

Vincent Carchietta/Imagn Images

Malik Nabers, WR, Giants

Malik Nabers was a sensation in his rookie campaign, totaling 1,204 yards and seven touchdowns despite being on a Giants team that didn’t perform well. Heading into 2025, the hope was that Nabers could continue leading the offense with Jaxson Dart under center, providing an elite target to a rising quarterback. Injuries prevented that from happening.

Nabers played in just four games in 2025 before a season-ending torn ACL, keeping him in recovery mode into the late offseason. With any ACL injury, there’s risk of a loss of athleticism. But based on reports from Giants training camp, Nabers appears set to return to WR1 status.

Expectations are much higher for the Giants in 2026 with John Harbaugh at the helm, Dart entering Year 2 and plenty of defensive talent. If the offense is going to take a necessary step forward, though, it will need a healthy Nabers. 

It’s been a while since he’s had the chance to showcase his talents, but Nabers should be back in conversations among the league’s best wideouts.

Terry McLaurin, WR, Commanders

As mentioned with Daniels, in 2025, the Commanders’ offense in general struggled to live up to the bar set in 2024. Daniels’ injuries were the headliners, but in reality, a number of Washington’s offensive contributors couldn’t stay on the field, including Terry McLaurin. 

Now entering his eighth season in D.C., McLaurin posted career lows across the board last year (38 receptions, 582 yards, 3 touchdowns), a combination of his own injury issues and Daniels’. With both healthy entering 2026, one of the NFL’s best red-zone connections from two seasons ago could return.

It was with Daniels at quarterback in 2024 that McLaurin set a new career-best with 13 touchdowns, looking rejuvenated after years of offensive struggles in Washington. At 31 years old, McLaurin isn’t going to be an annual threat for 1,110 yards, but he can still provide plenty of stability at his position for the Commanders.

Health permitting, McLaurin should directly benefit from a healthy Daniels after struggling last year.

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Mark Andrews, TE, Ravens

Another 31-year-old pass catcher in the DMV area primed for a 2026 bounce-back is the Ravens’ Mark Andrews, who has long been considered one of the NFL’s best all-around tight ends, yet has faded in recent years.

After dealing with injuries in 2023, Andrews’ red-zone success (11 touchdowns) made him extremely valuable in 2024. But 2025 was a much different story; he finished with 422 yards, the lowest of his eight-year career.

Age certainly has played a role in Andrews’ decline in production, but offseason changes in Baltimore should lead to an increase in targets for the three-time Pro Bowler. Jessie Minter appointed Declan Doyle as his offensive coordinator, a change in play-calling that could lead to an increased presence for Andrews. Additionally, Isaiah Likely — a longtime threat in the tight end room to Andrews’ numbers — is gone, signing with the Giants in free agency.

Even if its just as Lamar Jackson’s go-to option in the red zone, Andrews has a path to more of an active role in 2026. 

Micah Parsons, EDGE, Packers

The Packers will have two players returning from ACL tears at some point in 2026, and both are critical to the team’s success. Tight end Tucker Kraft, who broke out in 2025 before his injury, will give Jordan Love an elite threat in the middle of the field again, while Micah Parsons will be looking to return to his dominant ways on the defensive end.

Parsons isn’t exactly a “bounce back” candidate because of poor 2025 numbers. He still managed 12.5 sacks and two forced fumbles over 14 games last season prior to his injury, marking his fifth-straight season to open his career with at least 12 sacks. When he’s on the field, Parsons is one of the NFL’s best defenders, plain and simple.

Parsons will face the same questions as Mahomes, Kraft and Nabers, though: Will his athletic burst be the same? The assumption is yes — the 6-foot-3, 250-pound pass rusher has proven time and time again that he’s a force to be reckoned with on the field.

Parsons’ return should immediately make the Packers’ pass rush elite again. He’s one of the few players across the league who can swing games by himself. 

MORE: Full list of NFL’s highest-paid QBs for 2026

Sep 14, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson (91) celebrates the win after the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images

Trey Hendrickson, EDGE, Ravens

It was time for Trey Hendrickson to find a change of scenery. After five years with the Bengals, which featured three seasons of at least 14 sacks, four Pro Bowl nods, trade requests and contract holdouts, Hendrickson finally departed this offseason for the division rival Ravens.

The move also comes at a point with Hendrickson coming off a 2025 season in which he played just seven games due to injury, totaling four sacks. Baltimore forked over $112 million with the belief that Hendrickson can bounce back in 2026 and continue getting after quarterbacks, something he’s consistently done for years. 

Following the controversy of the failed Maxx Crosby trade and a head coaching change, there’s a bit more pressure to succeed going around in Baltimore this season. Hendrickson was the prize of the Ravens’ offseason. Now that he’s healthy again, he should return to his status as one of the game’s best pass rushers.

Nick Bosa, EDGE, 49ers

Rounding out the list is yet another superstar who hasn’t seen the field in almost a year due to a torn ACL. From 2021-24, Nick Bosa totaled at least nine sacks in every season, winning Defensive Player of the Year in 2022 and leading the 49ers to the Super Bowl in 2024. Three games into his 2025 season, it was derailed by one of many injuries for San Francisco.

Health remains a major concern for most of the 49ers roster, but Bosa, like Parsons, produces when he’s on the field. There isn’t much concern that he won’t be who he once was; his nearly 270-pound frame has overwhelmed many offensive lineman, and that shouldn’t change after the torn ACL.

San Francisco will also need Bosa to keep up in a loaded division, as the Rams have added both Myles Garrett and Aaron Donald this offseason, on top of the defending champion Seahawks. Elite pass-rushing is a must in the NFC West, and the 49ers can only keep up in that department with Bosa.

When Week 1 rolls around, Bosa will be among the group of NFL stars set to make a highly-anticipated return to action after an ACL injury in 2025.

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