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NFL comeback players to watch in 2017
Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

NFL comeback players to watch in 2017

Be it injury, suspension, or simply a downturn of fortune, each year players seemingly bound for success fall by the wayside. That doesn't necessarily mean the drop-off is permanent. Just as many stars each season find a way to bounce back from a struggling performance the year before. This year, some of the biggest names in the sport are attempting to regain the form that got them notoriety.

 
Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots
Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

Already the winner of the 2014 NFL Comeback Player of the Year award, Gronk knows what it takes to bounce back from an injury. Unfortunately, after three back surgeries, one has to wonder when wear and tear will start to take effect. Until that's evident, you have to assume Gronk remains the best tight end in the game,

 
J.J. Watt, Houston Texans
Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

The three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year hadn't missed a regular season start coming into the 2016 season. He only lasted three games until he needed a second surgery to deal with a back injury he sustained during the off-season. With Jadeveon Clowney establishing himself as a force in Watt's absence, many are excited to see them both in top form on the field at once.

 
Justin Houston, Kansas City Chiefs
Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

The Chiefs' top pass rusher never quite recovered in 2016 from a serious knee injury he suffered the previous year. He's said going into 2017 he feels as good as he's ever felt. Kansas City certainly hopes he can return to the form that allowed him to register 22 sacks in 2014.

 
Sammy Watkins, Los Angeles Rams
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

A foot injury caused him to miss half the 2016 season and post the worst numbers of his career. Now he looks for a new beginning in Los Angeles as the top target for young quarterback Jared Goff.

 
Jay Cutler, Miami Dolphins
Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

For most of the off-season it seemed like the only way fans would see Jay Cutler is watching him practice his chops in the announce booth. And then Ryan Tannehill went down for the season. Cutler has a chance to guide the Dolphins to another playoff berth and improve on what was a lackluster and brief 2016 season.

 
Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers
Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

The Chargers' top receiver was lost for the season in Week 1 of the 2016 season. Los Angeles used the seventh pick in the draft this spring to select receiver Mike Williams. Nevertheless, there should still be plenty of opportunities available in the offense for Allen.

 
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Marshawn Lynch, Oakland Raiders

Marshawn Lynch, Oakland Raiders
Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Following a retirement that lasted just one year, Lynch is back to play for his hometown team, in one of its few years left in Oakland. A phenomenal Raiders pass attack means teams won't be able to crowd the box to stop Lynch, giving him more room to maneuver before powering through defenders.

 
Martavis Bryant, Pittsburgh Steelers
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

The Steelers were without one of their big play threats on offense for 2016 due to a yearlong drug suspension handed down to Bryant. Now he's back. If Pittsburgh is going to challenge New England for control of the AFC they'll need all hands on deck.

 
Tyrann Mathieu, Arizona Cardinals
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The Honey Badger had finished three of his four NFL seasons prematurely with an injury. He has to consider 2016 another setback and work to get back in the form that got him his first Pro Bowl appearance in 2015. When healthy he's one of the best big play safeties in the league.

 
Eric Decker, Tennessee Titans
Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Decker's three-year stint in New York ended with an injury that cut short his 2016 season. Now in Tennessee, Decker is looking to post his fourth career 1,000-yard receiver, though that's dependent on the Titans passing offense continuing to progress with Marcus Mariota.

 
Desmond Trufant, Atlanta Falcons
Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

The Falcons certainly missed their top corner late in the Super Bowl, as Tom Brady picked on Jalen Collins to now famously bring the Pats back from a 28-3 deficit. Atlanta doesn't appear to be worried about the torn pectoral muscle that took away half of his 2016 season; they gave him a big contract extension in the off-season.

 
Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers
Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

The 2015 NFL MVP suffered a Super Bowl hangover not unlike the rest of the Panthers last season. Newton's 2016 numbers were the worst of his career. With a fresh start and a new weapon added to the offense, Newton looks to get at least some of his swag back in 2017.

 
Brock Osweiler, Cleveland Browns
Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

Osweiler became the butt of many a joke in 2016 for failing to live up to the huge free agent contract he signed with Houston before last season. The Texans were so desperate to get rid of him, they shipped a second-round pick to Cleveland along with Osweiler to sweeten the deal. Knowing how long Browns QB last, the Brocktopus is bound to get another chance to start before long.

 
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NaVorro Bowman, San Francisco 49ers

NaVorro Bowman, San Francisco 49ers
Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

The Niners defensive leader knows what it takes to come back from a devastating injury, after he missed the entire 2014 season following a tear to an ACL and MCL late in the previous season. In 2016, it was a torn Achilles. San Francisco is changing base defensive alignment to a 4-3, which will require Bowman is making adjustments beyond the mere physical.

 
Danny Woodhead, Baltimore Ravens
Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

Woodhead may be a complementary weapon in the offense, but he's one of the best receiving backs in the NFL. He had trouble staying healthy in San Diego. The Ravens will need him to be available considering some of the other weaknesses in the passing game.

 
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Luke Kuechly, Carolina Panthers

Luke Kuechly, Carolina Panthers
Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

Another Panthers star who would prefer not to repeat the 2016 season, Kuechly missed the last six games last year with a significant concussion. With Tampa Bay's presumed ascendance, Carolina is something of an afterthought going into 2017. How the Panthers' stars fare in their return will play a huge part in whether the team can get back to the top of the NFC South.

 
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Adrian Peterson, New Orleans Saints

Adrian Peterson, New Orleans Saints
Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

It's rare that a 32-year-old running back be thought of as a comeback player possibility. It's a credit to the amount of talent Peterson has. He's going into the 2017 season as the backup to Mark Ingram. Given how many points the Saints will need to put up to compensate for their defense, it's safe to say they'll need Peterson to contribute.

Mike Tunison is a freelance writer based in Alexandria, Va. and the former editor of Kissing Suzy Kolber. You can follow him at @xmasape on Twitter.

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