Predicting the NFL’s Biggest Comebacks in 2016

Reggie Bush only needed a one-word endorsement to convince me that his comeback bid could be successful. 

Bush caught a screen pass from Tyrod Taylor during a Buffalo Bills full-squad drill on Monday, weaved through the first-team defense and then burst along the sideline. “Damn!” shouted one of the linebackers in pursuit, pronouncing the word in two long syllables as he whiffed on the 31-year-old running back, who is returning from a season-ending MCL injury in 2015.

Bills defenders chase LeSean McCoy all the time, so a quick cut shouldn’t catch them off guard. Bush obviously still has some niftiness in him.

Bush won’t recapture the success of 2011 through 2013 this year. He won’t have the breakout season we have been waiting on since The Da Vinci Code was in theaters. His primary role will be as a kick and punt returner. But the Bills offensive line helped guys named Karlos Williams and Mike Gillislee combine for 5.6 yards per carry in relief of Shady last year. Bush could rack up a lot of yardage in a changeup role.

We must tread carefully when predicting comebacks, especially on the eve of the first round of preseason games. Many returning veterans will face their first full-contact action in months this weekend; others could be held out until the regular season begins.

There can be slow recoveries, minor setbacks that become major or changing circumstances that turn a former superstar into a role player. A fully healthy veteran can discover he suddenly has nothing left in the tank. A guy we all gave up on, like Bush, can suddenly leave defenders tackling shadows and cussing.

That said, here are my impressions and predictions for veterans who are on the comeback trail this year.

Le’Veon Bell: Bell took a lot of handoffs with Pittsburgh’s first team during joint practices with the Detroit Lions this week. He was cutting quickly and with confidence. Fans oohed and aahed at Bell’s first few carries, then started shouting, “Get him off the field!” when shoulder pads really started popping.

Bell is coming off a right knee injury that ended his 2015 campaign, and faces a four-game suspension to start the season for missing “several” drug tests, according to NFL Media Insider Ian Rapaport. The running back should be at full speed when he returns though.

Kelvin Benjamin: Benjamin sounded like he was ready to play again when I spoke to him during Super Bowl week. He probably wouldn’t have made much of a difference if he did somehow suit up in the Super Bowl.

Benjamin’s eagerness aside, Ron Rivera has carefully limited his work during the offseason and is expected to only give him a cameo in Thursday night’s preseason opener against the Baltimore Ravens, per the Charlotte Observer’s Joseph Person.

While Benjamin was away, his quarterback became MVP and the Carolina Panthers became one of the best teams in the NFL. Yet they kept his seat warm as the go-to receiver. Combine Cam Newton’s development with a more experienced Benjamin, and we could be looking at a leap into Antonio Brown-DeAndre Hopkins territory this season.

Jamaal Charles: The 29-year-old Charles is still on the PUP list while recovering from last year’s ACL tear. There is no timetable for his return. The Chiefs got solid play from Charcandrick West and Spencer Ware in Charles’ absence, and Knile Davis has been effective in the past. Read the writing on the wall. Andy Reid might try to craft a 10-carry, five-catch role for Charles the way he did for Brian Westbrook late in his career. But the 1,000-yard seasons are over for Charles.

Victor Cruz: Cruz was healthy and participating fully in practices when I visited the New York Giants last week. Then I wrote about his good health and, WHAM, his groin started bothering …

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