1 hr. ago
NFL bounceback candidates: Jayden Daniels, Malik Nabers headline players most likely to return to form in 2026 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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.
#here #bounceback #coming #jayden
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.
#here #bounceback #coming #jayden
14 days ago
The Nats' struggles against divisional opponents continued with a sweep at the hands of the last place Mets. Thankfully they will be playing a non-divisional opponent to start the week. The Nats have been quite good in interleague play with a 22-17 record. They will look to keep that going against the Rangers.
Nasim Nunez is getting the start at his new shortstop position. However, CJ Abrams will not be at second base quite yet. He will get the start at DH. That means Jorbit Vivas is at second and Brady House is at third. Harry Ford will get the nod behind the plate in this one. Abimelec Ortiz will be in the lineup against the team that signed him as well. Jackson Kent will be making his second career start tonight and looks to improve his control.
The Rangers offense has not been an elite one this year, but they have some dangerous bats. Despite a down year, Corey Seager remains a feared bat. Wyatt Langford and longtime NL East foe Brandon Nimmo have been two of the Rangers best hitters this season. Catcher Danny Jansen returns after being out with injury for a while. Cal Quantrill has had a major bounceback in Texas this year and he will get the start.
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#year #nats #nasim
Nasim Nunez is getting the start at his new shortstop position. However, CJ Abrams will not be at second base quite yet. He will get the start at DH. That means Jorbit Vivas is at second and Brady House is at third. Harry Ford will get the nod behind the plate in this one. Abimelec Ortiz will be in the lineup against the team that signed him as well. Jackson Kent will be making his second career start tonight and looks to improve his control.
The Rangers offense has not been an elite one this year, but they have some dangerous bats. Despite a down year, Corey Seager remains a feared bat. Wyatt Langford and longtime NL East foe Brandon Nimmo have been two of the Rangers best hitters this season. Catcher Danny Jansen returns after being out with injury for a while. Cal Quantrill has had a major bounceback in Texas this year and he will get the start.
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Fewer ads
#year #nats #nasim
1 month ago
The Bucs dealt with a lot of injuries in 2025, and several players are ready to turn the page and see others perform the way they know they can. From Baker Mayfield to Cody Mauch to Bucky Irving, a lot of those players looking for a bounceback are on offense. In fact, two of those names were connected this week after one spoke to the media.
Mauch is coming back from a season-ending knee injury and has a chip of his own on his shoulder. He spoke to the media on Friday and shared how several Bucs are itching to prove themselves, but especially Baker Mayfield.
He explained it while talking about the contract issues between Mayfield and the franchise, saying, "It sucks to see him go through this and whatnot, but it's not going to change his mentality, the way he plays. . .he's going to go off."
Mauch will play a big part in Mayfield having the year he expects. The offensive line being hurt led to some issues with Mayfield and his health. If both parties are healthy and there for each other on the field, then the results will likely speak for themselves.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Bucs' Cody Mauch believes Baker Mayfield is 'going to go off'
#baker
Mauch is coming back from a season-ending knee injury and has a chip of his own on his shoulder. He spoke to the media on Friday and shared how several Bucs are itching to prove themselves, but especially Baker Mayfield.
He explained it while talking about the contract issues between Mayfield and the franchise, saying, "It sucks to see him go through this and whatnot, but it's not going to change his mentality, the way he plays. . .he's going to go off."
Mauch will play a big part in Mayfield having the year he expects. The offensive line being hurt led to some issues with Mayfield and his health. If both parties are healthy and there for each other on the field, then the results will likely speak for themselves.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Bucs' Cody Mauch believes Baker Mayfield is 'going to go off'
#baker
2 months ago
The Orioles only got to send one representative to the All-Star game this season, but Adley Rutschman earned the opportunity. Rutschman made his third All Star appearance after slashing .253/.327/.436 in the first half.
Rutschman’s strong start to the season represented a bounceback for the former first overall pick. The Oregon State product posted a below-average 89 OPS+ while missing time with oblique issues in 2025. Baltimore made waves by inking catcher Samuel Basallo to an eight-year extension and signing free agent Pete Alonso to a five-year deal, but it was Rutschman representing the Orioles in Philadelphia tonight.
Basallo and Alonso have played well for Baltimore. Alonso felt like a legitimate snub after slashing .252/.346/.474 with 21 homers in the first half, but Rutschman deserves credit for finding his way back into the spotlight.
That spotlight came with questions about trade rumors and potential contract extensions. Rutschman handled himself well this week without expressing anything really worthy of discussion. The backstop said he’s had a “phenomenal experience so far with Baltimore,” and reiterated that he doesn’t spend any time thinking about trade rumors or his contract. Rutschman is under team control in Baltimore through next season.
Rutschman was named an All-Star reserve behind AL starter Shea Langeliers and fellow reserve Dillon Dingler. Langeliers entered the break slashing .257/.324/.483 with 21 homers, and Dingler received the nod after slashing .262/.323/.508 with 19 long **** . Langeliers walked and scored a run in the first inning and singled in the third. Dingler struck out in his only at bat.
Rutschman’s strong start to the season represented a bounceback for the former first overall pick. The Oregon State product posted a below-average 89 OPS+ while missing time with oblique issues in 2025. Baltimore made waves by inking catcher Samuel Basallo to an eight-year extension and signing free agent Pete Alonso to a five-year deal, but it was Rutschman representing the Orioles in Philadelphia tonight.
Basallo and Alonso have played well for Baltimore. Alonso felt like a legitimate snub after slashing .252/.346/.474 with 21 homers in the first half, but Rutschman deserves credit for finding his way back into the spotlight.
That spotlight came with questions about trade rumors and potential contract extensions. Rutschman handled himself well this week without expressing anything really worthy of discussion. The backstop said he’s had a “phenomenal experience so far with Baltimore,” and reiterated that he doesn’t spend any time thinking about trade rumors or his contract. Rutschman is under team control in Baltimore through next season.
Rutschman was named an All-Star reserve behind AL starter Shea Langeliers and fellow reserve Dillon Dingler. Langeliers entered the break slashing .257/.324/.483 with 21 homers, and Dingler received the nod after slashing .262/.323/.508 with 19 long **** . Langeliers walked and scored a run in the first inning and singled in the third. Dingler struck out in his only at bat.
