It’s never easy coming off a major injury. But for these players, injuries that cost them most of the 2013 season were especially troubling because they have so much to prove in 2014.
Sam Bradford: quarterback St. Louis Rams
Sam Bradford tore his ACL against the Carolina Panthers last year. (Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports)
The last No. 1 draft pick of the old collective bargaining agreement lugs around expectations — perhaps unfairly — and 2014 is the latest chance Sam Bradford has to prove he’s worth it.
When Bradford signed his six-year $78 million contract following the 2010 draft, it became the most lucrative rookie contract in the history of the NFL. Since then, results have been mixed.
He started to back up the first-pick billing in 2013, throwing for 1,687 yards, 14 touchdowns and just four interceptions in seven games, but he tore his anterior cruciate ligament against the Carolina Panthers.
Bradford isn’t playing for a contract in 2014, but at his price tag, he’s in the top half of the most-expensive starting quarterbacks in the league. It’s time for his production to back that up.
Von Miller: Denver Broncos outside linebacker
Von Miller (Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports)
With 30 sacks in his first two seasons, Von Miller burst into the debate about the NFL’s top pass rusher.
Since then, it has been a struggle.
Miller was suspended six games for violating the NFL’s policy on performance enhancing drugs and was arrested for failure to appear in court for a traffic citation last August. He finally returned to the field Week 7, but a torn ACL in the last week of the regular season kept him out of Denver’s run to the Super Bowl.
The Broncos exercised Miller’s fifth-year option, keeping him with the franchise through 2015, so he has two years to make his case. But with lingering questions about PEDs and off-field concerns, Miller needs to show the Broncos that he’s committed to football first.
Jeremy Maclin: Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver
Jeremy Maclin (Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports)
Things were lining up nicely for Jeremy Maclin.
His role was set to increase with new head coach Chip Kelly implementing his high-powered offense in 2013. A contract year loomed, and a productive season would likely bring him stability with the Eagles. Then a torn ACL in July halted all of that.
While ex-Eagle DeSean Jackson’s numbers took off under Kelly in 2013, Maclin watched on the sidelines. The Eagles released Jackson, and then Philadelphia awarded Maclin with a one-year, prove-it contract worth $6 million.
Maclin likely becomes the team’s No. 1 wideout this season, and a big year could bring a long-term contract this offseason.
Jake Locker: quarterback Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans quarterback Jake Locker (10) in the huddle with tight end Delanie Walker (82) and wide receiver Nate Washington (85). (Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports)
How important is 2014 for Locker?
The Titans declined to pick up his option for a fifth year, so the No. 8 overall selection from the 2011 draft is playing for his future in Tennessee.
Entering his fourth season in Nashville, Locker has been inconsistent and hasn’t shown he can be the team’s unquestioned franchise quarterback.
Last season started off promising for Locker, who completed 60.7 % of his passes for 1,256 yards and eight touchdowns to only four interceptions in seven starts, but a Lisfranc injury sidelined him for the rest of the year.
With a new staff in place — the Titans hired head coach Ken Whisenhunt — Locker must, once again, try to make his case to be Tennessee’s quarterback of the future.