Age sometimes does not mean a thing when it comes to an athlete’s performance, as is the case for some NFL veterans this year.
Some players fizzle out way before their expected time. Just ask free agent Trent Richardson, who is a mere 26 and destined to remain jobless. On the other hand, players approaching or well past the age of 30 will hit the field this fall and out-perform younger players.
Many of them will bounce back and have big-time seasons after recent struggles.
The following list of NFL veterans are definitely poised to turn back time this season.
Arian Foster, running back, Miami Dolphins
Foster will receive a fresh start in Miami after spending seven seasons with the Houston Texans.
It should be only a matter of time before he ousts second-year running back Jay Ajayi from the No. 1 role. Ajayi failed to impress in the preseason opener and botched a couple of receptions along the way.
Foster has reportedly looked sharp in training camp coming off of an Achilles injury. Thus, he will be given the opportunity to play with the first team in the Dolphins’ second preseason game.
The key to Foster’s success is obviously for him to stay healthy.
During the four seasons when Foster managed at least 13 games, he averaged a total of 1,818 combined rushing and receiving yards per year and tallied 60 combined scores.
It is no secret that quarterback Ryan Tannehill struggles at times to complete longer passes. Foster should be a tremendous asset as an outlet in the passing game as long as he remains upright.
Eric Weddle, safety, Baltimore Ravens
After a salty final season with the San Diego Chargers, Weddle brings his Pro-Bowl skills across the country.
The outstanding safety is coming off an injury-riddled campaign when, for the first time in his career, he failed to record an interception. Furthermore, his combined tackles decreased to 78. Though, with the exception of 2015, the 31 year-old safety has not missed a game since 2009.
In his new surroundings Weddle says he is “definitely” in the prime of his career.
The Ravens added him to boost a lagging secondary and have him listed as a starter. Barring any injury, Weddle should have a bounce-back year in his new environment.
Jordy Nelson, wide receiver, Green Bay Packers
For the first time in his career, Nelson was sidelined an entire season after he tore his ACL in training camp last year.
The Packers will likely ease him back into the preseason mix, and he should be ready to go for Week 1 of the regular season. It was obvious that the Packers offense struggled at times last year without Aaron Rodgers’ No. 1 go-to guy.
Over the two years prior to 2015, Nelson tallied 183 receptions for 2,833 yards and 21 touchdowns. Even though he turned 31 May, there is little reason to think that he will not be able to keep up with the league’s young, elite wide receivers.
This is only magnified by the fact that Nelson catches passes from one of the best and most accurate quarterbacks in the league.
Rashad Jennings, running back, New York Giants
Rather than regressing with age, Jennings is doing quite the opposite at the age of 31.
In 2015, Jennings played in his first complete season and tallied a career-high 863 rushing yards. He also improved to an average of 4.4 yards per carry versus the 3.8 he managed his first year with the Giants.
He has accomplished enough to establish himself as the “clear” No. 1 back on the team’s roster. It would appear that a running back committee is not going to be the Giants’ plan of attack this season, according to Ralph Vacchiano of SNY.
This little tidbit of information might come in handy for those who play fantasy football as well. Though, the hope would be to see Jennings find the end zone more than the five times he did last year.
Terrell Suggs, linebacker, Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens were a hot mess when it came to injuries last season.
It all started when Suggs was lost for the entire season to an Achilles injury after playing just one game in 2015. The good news is he has been removed from the team’s PUP list.
Even at the age of 33, Suggs proved to be a major contributor to the Ravens defense prior to getting injured. During his 2013-14 seasons, Suggs recorded 22 sacks, 149 combined tackles and one safety.
Suggs was sorely missed last year, and that was illustrated when the Ravens’ defense registered only 24 sacks (third-worst in the NFL) in 2015.
This is a number that should dramatically improve once Suggs returns to the field in September.
Eli Manning, quarterback, New York Giants
For various reasons, Manning seems to attract the haters, even though the 35 year-old veteran has stepped his game up the past couple of years.
Manning’s touchdown to interception ratio has improved immensely to 65:28 for the 2014-15 seasons. The two-time Super Bowl champion also passed for over 4,400 yards each of these seasons.
This likely has much do with Odell Beckham Jr., who was drafted in 2014 and whom Manning has utilized to the fullest. Now, the quarterback will get to also throw to the talented Sterling Shepard, who is already turning into a super-star as a rookie.
There is little reason to believe that Manning’s level of production is going to suddenly tank in 2016. The task at hand would be to see the Giants manage more than the six wins they have recorded in the 2014-15 seasons.
Jamaal Charles, running back, Kansas City Chiefs
When healthy, Charles is an amazing rusher and pass-catcher. He is also an obvious staple within the Chiefs offense.
An unfortunate ACL injury ended Charles’ season after only five games in 2015. Though, it appears that Charles should be 100 percent by Week 1 and ready to assume his lead role.
Throughout his career, Charles has averaged 5.5 yards per carry. And in the seasons when he has played at least 15 games, Charles has tallied no less than 1,033 rushing yards per campaign.
As a receiver, Charles has recorded an average of 305 yards and 2.5 touchdowns per season. Worth noting was the 29 year-old running back was on course to record 566 receiving yards before his injury last year.
Considering the Chiefs’ success last year minus Charles, fans can only wonder what great things are in store once their beloved running back hits the field in 2016.
Roman Harper, safety, New Orleans Saints
After spending two seasons with the Carolina Panthers, Harper, 33, has been reunited with the team that selected him in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft.
Harper has so far looked good in training camp, and head coach Sean Payton noted the safety has remained in shape. He is penciled in behind Kenny Vaccaro at strong safety on the team’s depth chart.
Despite whatever the Saints have in mind for Harper, he remains competitive.
“I told Sean, ‘Look, I’m going to compete,’’’ Harper said per Pat Yasinskas of todayspigskin.com. “That’s all I know. If you don’t want me to do certain things, you’ve got to let me know. But, at the end of the day, I’m trying to compete. I’m trying to earn every right to play this game.”
If Harper can contribute anything to digging the Saints’ wretched defense out of the dumps, then he will have been worth bringing back.
Anquan Boldin, wide receiver, Detroit Lions
Entering into his 14th year, Boldin remains one the most of the most resilient offensive playmakers in the league. The Lions recently signed him to their squad in July.
Even while dealing with a couple of minor ailments and some horrific quarterback circumstances with the San Francisco 49ers, Boldin still drew 111 targets for 69 catches and 789 yards in 2015. His production is bound to improve considering he will now be catching passes from Matthew Stafford.
Boldin was reportedly so impressive in the Lions first preseason game that there is reportedly “no question” he will be the No. 3 receiver when the regular season kicks off.
It is hard to imagine that Boldin will turn 36 in October and still has the athleticism of a player in his 20’s.
Chris Long, defensive end, New England Patriots
After spending his entire career since 2008 with the (then) St. Louis Rams, Long is now playing with a legitimate NFL contender.
The Patriots signed the former second-round draft pick to aid in the loss of Chandler Jones, whom they traded to the Arizona Cardinals in free agency. Long has battled some injuries that prevented him from playing a full season the last two years.
When healthy, Long competes at a high level, which was showcased by his 41.5 sacks tallied during his 2010-13 seasons spent with the Rams.
Head coach Bill Belichick has a knack of picking up aging talent and turning it into gold. The Patriots currently have Long lined up on the left playing opposite Jabaal Sheard.
Hopefully, the ankle injury he was dealing with is long gone (no pun intended) and Belichick’s veteran investment pays off.