The 2022 season was rough for some of the biggest names in the league. Whether it be a result of injuries or natural regression, some of the NFL’s best players fell well short of the expectations that were set for them at the beginning of the season.
Despite this, there are three of the league’s biggest stars that are poised for major comeback seasons in 2023.
1. Aaron Rodgers
While Aaron Rodgers made it through the 2022 season without any injuries, it was still one of the worst years of his illustrious career. He would finish the season with a losing record as a starter for the first time since 2018.
Along with this, he would throw for the least amount of passing yards since he won the starting job in Green Bay barring seasons in which he played less than ten games. After a steep drop-off in a multitude of statistical categories in 2022 coming off of his back-to-back MVP campaigns in 2020 and 2021, many believed this would be the curtain call for Rodgers.
Even the future Hall of Fame quarterback himself seriously considered retirement after the disappointing season. However, he would make the decision to continue playing and would eventually be traded to the New York Jets.
The Jets have a much more talented and championship-caliber roster that will give Rodgers the perfect opportunity to bounce back in 2023 and potentially even lead the team to a Super Bowl. Along with this, he will rejoin the offensive coordinator that he won his previous two MVP awards with. While the AFC East will be an extremely difficult division to win this season, Rodgers and the Jets are poised for a big year in their first season together.
2. Lamar Jackson
Last season, Lamar Jackson had his season cut short due to a PCL injury. Despite Jackson leading the Baltimore Ravens to a playoff appearance, he was unable to play in the postseason, and the Ravens would fall short in the first round by the Cincinnati Bengals.
Although the team still made a playoff appearance, Jackson had one of the worst seasons of his career. Through the air, he had the least amount of both yards and touchdowns since his rookie campaign. Along with this, on the ground, he also would set a mark for his lowest rushing yards in a season since his rookie year.
With the injury coming at such a crucial time, many believed that Jackson was going to struggle to get the money that he desired in free agency. Things got ugly as the Ravens placed a non-exclusive tag on him, and Jackson would even go on to request a trade.
Despite this, after Baltimore would sign Odell Beckham Jr., draft Zay Flowers in the first round, and offer Jackson an extension that would make him the highest-paid player in football, the two sides were able to get a deal done.
With a revamped receiving core and Jackson having some additional time to recover from his injury, he is poised to have a big bounce-back season this year. He has already talked about wanting to make a big jump as a passer this season, and with the receiving core the Ravens have put around him, there is a very solid chance he can achieve this.
3. Cooper Kupp
The final star that is set to have a big turnaround this season is Cooper Kupp. Kupp would end up missing almost half of the season last year as a result of surgery he received on a high ankle sprain.
Paring this with his quarterback Matthew Stafford also struggling through the season with injuries as well, Kupp’s receiving yards would be more than cut in half from the 2021 season.
With the Rams roster back in good health and ready to make another run at a title after a rough 2022 year, the duo of Kupp and Stafford should once again be torching opposing defenses.
