Nothing changes the complexion of an NFL season faster than injuries to star players. It can flip entire divisions and sometimes even whole conferences. It can affect who plays in the Super Bowl. With the caliber of guys who went down last season, it’s probably easy to guess who’s on this list. Still, it’s worth noting how fare these guys have come when they all make the Pro Bowl next season.
One guy that didn’t make the list is Victor Cruz, wideout for the New York Giants. It’s been over a year and a half since Cruz has been on a football field. There’s reason for hope and if he’s not hurt and the same guy, then he’ll be a solid player. There aren’t enough footballs in New York for a “monster season” from him (Odell Beckham Jr. will have one and rookie Sterling Shepard should get his share). At this point, I think he’d just take healthy.
Dez Bryant, Wide Receiver, Dallas Cowboys
2015: nine games, 31 receptions, 401 yards, three touchdowns
Bryant never really was healthy last season and actually ended up injuring the same foot twice. It was all part of a nightmare scenario for the Dallas Cowboys, which I’ll talk a little more about in a minute. Bryant is healthy and back and, just as important, so is his quarterback. To win or even compete in the NFC East, the Cowboys will have to score some points. With Ezekiel Elliott in the backfield, Bryant should find himself a little more free to work downfield.
Projected 2016: 90 catches, 1,450 yards, 14 touchdowns
Robert Quinn, Defensive End, Los Angeles Rams
2015: eight games, 13 tackles, five sacks, three passes defended, three forced fumbles
Quinn, like Bryant, never really got healthy last season. Still, when he was on the field he wreaked a whole lot of havoc, even in a limited role and number of games. Two years ago Quinn had 19 sacks and seven forced fumbles. Healthy now and with Aaron Donald, Michael Brockers and William Hayes on the line with him, Quinn should be able to find his way to the quarterback plenty of times… if Donald doesn’t beat him there.
Projected 2016: 45 tackles, 16 sacks, six forced fumbles
Jordy Nelson, Wide Receiver, Green Bay Packers
2015: Injured in the preseason. Didn’t play a down
Perhaps no player on this list directly impacted his team’s Super Bowl chances by going down than Nelson did with the Packers. He’s been quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ favorite target for the last four seasons and one of the most dominant and consist wide receivers in the NFL. Nelson had a career year in 2014, catching 98 passes for 1,519 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Projected 2016: 95 catches, 1,500 yards, 12 touchdowns
Tony Romo, Quarterback, Dallas Cowboys
2015: four games played, 68.6 completion percentage, 884 yards, five touchdowns, seven interceptions
Romo twice broke his collar bone last season and the Cowboys could never recover. Romo made the leap in 2014, finally putting away the choker moniker for good, only to get his 2015 season ruined by two freak injuries. This will be Romo’s 12th season, so he’s not getting any younger or any less fragile, but he’s been healthy for the four previous seasons, including 2014 where he set career highs in completion percentage (69.9) and touchdowns (34).
Projected 2016: 68.5 completion percentage, 4,050 yards, 36 touchdowns, nine interceptions
Andrew Luck, Quarterback, Indianapolis Colts
2015: Seven games played, 55.3 completion percentage, 1,881 yards, 15 touchdowns, 12 interceptions
The Colts were the hot pick to make the Super Bowl on the AFC side last preseason. Instead they didn’t even make the playoffs, Luck was hurt most of the year, and the entire team kind of fell to pieces. A few years of silly drafts and letting the defense go finally caught up with them. Luck’s ascension to the upper echelon of NFL quarterbacks took a shot to the upper thigh last season, but that’s all it will be. This is the same guy who threw for 4,761 yards and 40 touchdowns two seasons ago. He’ll be back, healthy and the entire team should be better.
Projected 2016: 65.5 completion percentage, 4,700 yards, 42 touchdowns, 16 interceptions
