Aging NFL Stars Poised for a Rebound Season

Let’s get one thing straight: All of us are aging. Consider the circumstances if the opposite was true.

Listed here are more than a handful of veterans who have either turned 30 years old or are approaching that figure. A few are coming off injury-shortened years, while others are looking for fresh starts in new places.

All will make their presences felt this season. These eight performers stood out more than others in similar situations. Be it due to the teams they landed with or their abilities to bounce back from adversity in the past, those were among the factors when it came to making this list.

Age is but a number. So is a statistic. Look for each of these players to have his share of impressive totals in 2016.

RB Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs

Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

It’s not like Jamaal Charles hasn’t bounced back from an injury-shortened season in the past. The eight-year running back, who turns 30 on Dec. 27, has proved to have quite the recuperative powers.

You will recall that back in 2011, the four-time Pro Bowler was lost for the season after two games with a knee injury. He responded with a three-year stretch that saw him total 5,049 yards from scrimmage and 39 touchdowns in 46 contests.

Last season, Charles played in only five games before a knee injury shelved him for the rest of 2015. He’s once again on the comeback trail. Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star said that according to head coach Andy Reid, Charles could take part in on-field drills for the first time this year at minicamp, which begins on June 14.

Bouncing back four years ago and now doing it again at age 29 is a somewhat different story. But look for Charles to regain that previous Pro Bowl form in an offense that is perfectly suited for his talents. And with a backfield that also boasts Charcandrick West, Spencer Ware and Knile Davis, there will be less pressure on the veteran to put up astronomical numbers.

TE Vernon Davis, Washington Redskins

David Zalubowski/Associated Press

It wasn’t all that long ago then-San Francisco 49ers tight end Vernon Davis was having his way with opposing defenses.

His numbers during his nine-plus years with the San Francisco 49ers were impressive. He totaled 441 receptions for 5,640 yards and 55 scores. However, the falloff would be dramatic. After catching a pair of touchdown passes in a Week 1 road win over the Cowboys in 2014, Davis has not seen the end zone since.

Last year, he was dealt to the Denver Broncos during the season and wound up collecting a Super Bowl ring. His contributions were minimal, to say the least. In nine games with his new team, he caught 20 passes for 201 yards. In three postseason contests, Davis was targeted once and didn’t have a reception.

But familiarity will get you another chance. Washington Redskins general manager Scot McCloughan was with the Niners when Davis was the club’s first-round selection in 2006. Now the 32-year-old veteran has a new lease on life thanks to improving quarterback Kirk Cousins and a deep tight end group that includes Jordan Reed and Niles Paul. As a second or third option, look for Davis to regain his penchant for reaching the end zone.

RB Frank Gore, Indianapolis Colts

Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

In his initial season with the Indianapolis Colts, running back Frank Gore failed to run for at least 1,000 yards for the first time since 2010. That was during his days with the San Francisco 49ers and was also the last season he failed to play in all 16 games.

That wasn’t the case in 2015. Gore was in the backfield all season and wound up with 967 yards on the ground. He also failed to reach the century mark in any game—something that had not happened since his rookie campaign in 2005.

“My goal was to come here and be the difference-maker, something they didn’t have,” Gore said to Mike Wells of ESPN back in May. “Getting the 100-yard games, getting 1,000 yards. When that didn’t happen, that was really, really frustrating.”

Only three teams in the league gained fewer yards on the ground in 2015 than the Colts. The team averaged a disappointing 89.9 yards per game rushing and ran for a collective 1,438 yards as a club. In 10 seasons with the 49ers, Gore totaled at least 1,000 rushing yards eight times. That made his showing this past year with his new team disappointing.

“I’m not over it,” Gore added, per Wells. “I’m not going to be over it until I do it. I’ve been blessed that they kept me to get the opportunity to do it again. To go after my goals again, to be the one to get the 100 yards that they didn’t have in years. To get that 1,000-plus yards (in a season).”

Colts general manager Ryan Grigson has done his best to help the 33-year-old running back. Indianapolis used four of its eight selections in April’s draft on offensive line help. That included a first-round pick on University of Alabama center Ryan Kelly, who figures to be an immediate starter.

Quarterback Andrew Luck won’t be the only member of the team to see a better front protecting him. Gore may not have fresh legs come December, but look for him to make amends for 2015 with a fast start this fall.

SS Roman Harper, New Orleans Saints

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Perhaps a blast from the recent past can help reverse the defensive fortunes of the New Orleans Saints.

The emphasis is on blast.

While it was the New York Giants who ranked dead last in the NFL in passing yards allowed, the team from the Big Easy didn't make it too difficult on opposing offenses. The Saints gave up the second-most yards per game across the board, ranking 31st in the league versus the run and pass as well. New Orleans permitted a league-high 476 points and surrendered 45 touchdowns through the air—the most in a season in NFL history.

So why not bring back a part of its opportunistic defenses and a member of its NFL title team to help? Strong safety Roman Harper spent the past two seasons with the division rival Carolina Panthers and went to Super Bowl 50. He was part of a club that totaled a league-best 39 takeaways in 2015.

Per Pro Football Focus, the 33-year-old pro has hardly been the player he was during his prime in New Orleans. But over the course of two years with the Panthers, his performance did improve a bit. In 2015, he earned a positive grade (plus-1.4) for his pass coverage. He'll add some savvy and much-needed physicality to a safety group that includes Kenny Vaccaro, Jairus Byrd, rookie Vonn Bell and the secondary in general.

WR Vincent Jackson, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

There is a lot of excitement surrounding the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this season. Armed with a young and exciting quarterback in 22-year-old Jameis Winston and plenty of new faces on defense, this is a club that could make its first playoff appearance since 2007.

What can we expect from 33-year-old wide receiver Vincent Jackson this fall? Plenty, if you ask new head coach Dirk Koetter. According to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times, the Bucs’ sideline leader does not believe the experienced wideout “is anywhere close to being done.”

Injuries limited the three-time Pro Bowl pass-catcher to just 10 games in 2015. Jackson totaled a mere 33 catches for 543 yards and three touchdowns, but that included an impressive 16.5 yards per reception. Another offseason of work with Winston will improve his rapport with the talented signal-caller. Playing opposite Mike Evans, Jackson will rebound in a big way for a team going places this fall.

DE Chris Long, New England Patriots

Associated Press

New Patriots' defensive linemen Chris Long (95), Markus Kuhn (94) and Terrance Knighton (96).

In 2008, the St. Louis Rams made University of Virginia defensive end Chris Long the second overall pick in the draft.

In his first six seasons, he played in every game and racked up 50.5 sacks. But injuries became a factor in 2014, and over the course of the last two years, he’s missed 14 contests and totaled a mere four sacks in 18 outings.

Cut loose by the Rams this offseason, the 31-year-old pro appears to be rejuvenated and will now line up on a revamped defensive front for the New England Patriots. It’s a franchise that Long is now happy to be part of, as he discussed back in April with Patriots.com:

"

I was very open-minded when it came to my free agency situation this year. Obviously, the Rams felt it was time to move in a different direction. I wasn’t bent out of shape about it. It was time to move on for me as well. A fresh start is great and I just wanted an opportunity to win, and an opportunity to be a part of something like this organization is great, and having the opportunity when it came about I was very excited. I knew it was where I wanted to be and if things fell into place for me I would be excited. So certainly, it’s a blessing and I guess that it’s an opportunity—I’ve used that word over and over again—I’ve got a lot to earn and I can’t wait to prove myself. The last two years I’ve made no excuses about it. I feel very good right now and that’s all I can say.

"

Feeling good will be bad news for New England opponents. The veteran defender joins fellow newcomers Terrance Knighton, Markus Kuhn and Frank Kearse on a line that already includes 2015 first-round defensive tackle Malcom Brown and defensive ends Rob Ninkovich and Jabaal Sheard.

A healthy Long makes this a deep and experienced group and also means the eight-year pro won’t be counted on to be a one-man show.

WR Steve Smith, Baltimore Ravens

Norm Hall/Getty Images

No one expected the 15th-leading pass-catcher in NFL history to go out quietly.

In what was expected to be his final season in the league, Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith caught 46 passes for 670 yards and three scores before going down in Week 8 with an Achilles injury. It cost the veteran receiver the final eight games of the season.

But Smith is returning for a 16th campaign, although even he isn’t quite sure when that return will take place.

“I don’t know when I’m coming back,” the 37-year-old wideout said in a recent conversation with Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com. “I just know I have to be able to do something in training camp to be able to play for the season. That’s just the way I operate. I can’t go from doing absolutely nothing [and] sitting on my butt for all of training camp and then go out there and play.”

When he played this past year, he did what he does best. He finished second on the club in catches, and his 14.6 yards per reception were impressive. Now flanked by fellow speedster Mike Wallace, Smith is patiently waiting to get back on the field.

“I’m just taking it one day at a time, allowing my injury to heal and strengthen myself,” Smith said, per Hensley. “I’m trying to be methodical and patient, which I’m not any of those. So it’s been good. It gives me a different perspective.”

With Wallace helping him threaten opposing defenses deep, the feisty Smith will again give quarterback Joe Flacco a potent big-play target.

DE Mario Williams, Miami Dolphins

Michael Adamucci/Getty Images

By all accounts, this looks like a no-brainer. Combine talent with a little smattering of revenge, and new Miami Dolphins defensive end Mario Williams is primed for a bounce-back campaign.

Especially when the 31-year-old lines up against the rival Buffalo Bills in Weeks 7 and 16.

In his first nine seasons in the league, the 6’6”, 292-pound pro totaled 91 sacks and was named to four Pro Bowls with the Houston Texans and the Bills. In his first three seasons in Orchard Park, he racked up 38 sacks in 48 contests and reached double digits in that category each year.

Enter new head coach Rex Ryan and a new approach in 2015. Williams and the fabled defensive mind never seemed to be on the same page. It added up to 19 tackles and five sacks in 15 outings. A look at the numbers courtesy of Pro Football Focus shows that of the 92 players at his position as a 3-4 end, he graded out dead last (minus-19.1) when it came to rushing the passer.

Williams was given his release this offseason and latched on with the Dolphins, a team that already boasted defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and defensive end Cameron Wake—the latter on the mend after suffering a season-ending Achilles injury in October. Lost in Williams’ sack total this past year was the fact that he earned positive marks for his play against the run (plus-3.2). That will come in handy when facing a Bills team that led the NFL in rushing this past year.

Of course, the sight of Ryan on the opposing sidelines may be all the motivation Williams needs. That and the chance to make amends for a forgettable 2015.

Unless otherwise noted, all player and team statistics come from Pro-Football-Reference.com and ESPN.com. All player ratings courtesy of Pro Football Focus. All 2016 free-agent and salary-cap information, contract terms and 2016 transactions are courtesy of Spotrac. Depth charts via Ourlads.