5 NFL players returning from injury who could star in the 2022 season

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - JANUARY 22: Derrick Henry #22 of the Tennessee Titans warms up before a game against the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Divisional Playoff game at Nissan Stadium on January 22, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Bengals defeated the Titans 19-16. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

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HOUSTON, TEXAS – SEPTEMBER 23: Christian McCaffrey #22 of the Carolina Panthers warms up against the Houston Texans prior to an NFL game at NRG Stadium on September 23, 2021 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) /

3. Carolina Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey

26-year-old Christian McCaffrey, a 2019 Pro Bowler, is one of the most dominant running backs in the game when he’s healthy. Unfortunately for both player and team, that’s been exactly the issue over the past few seasons.

The 2019 season was a near-record-breaking season for McCaffrey, but he was unable to follow up on that breakout performance with much else, as he appeared in just three games for the Panthers in 2020. In those three games that season, McCaffrey rushed for 225 across 59 carries, scoring five touchdowns on the ground and then one receiving TD as well.

In 2021, expectations were high for him as fans were looking for him to return to his 2019 form. The injury bug once again reared its ugly head and McCaffrey went down with an injury on two separate occasions. A hamstring injury sidelined him for a handful of games after he went down at the conclusion of Week 3 and he went down once again after Week 12 with an ankle injury.

All told, McCaffrey made just seven appearances last season for the Panthers, rushing for 442 yards on 99 attempts while also making 37 receptions and posting 343 receiving yards.

McCaffrey is a unique player in that he has the uncanny ability to get a ton of yards under his belt, whether it’s on the ground or through the air. His return to the Panthers will be huge for them but he’s also in something of a make-or-break type of situation as he is getting dangerously close to showing his four-year, $64MM contract was a bust.

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