As NFL teams gather for the next phase of offseason workouts with OTAs, the usual long list of key players returning from serious injuries accompanies them. The injuries spanned training camp to the playoffs, and the players are in varying stages of health and recovery.
Here are the top 10 comeback candidates for 2014.
1. QB Tony Romo, Cowboys
Injury: After playing through the injury to complete a comeback win at Washington in late December, Romo underwent surgery for a herniated disk.
How he’s doing: Well enough to take snaps in the Cowboys’ OTA Tuesday. Last week, he told ESPN.com that he would be on “a little bit of a pitch count” in workouts and believes he’ll be ready for the regular season. It is, however, his second back operation in as many offseasons.
2. WR Reggie Wayne, Colts
Injury: The Pro Bowl wide receiver tore his right ACL in the fourth quarter of the Colts’ October win over Denver, Peyton Manning’s homecoming game.
How he’s doing: Wayne participated in the first wave of offseason conditioning and workouts last month. Before that, he had declared himself “way ahead of schedule,’’ but the Colts will likely take it easy on him in OTAs and minicamp and target training camp, nine months after his injury.
3. TE Rob Gronkowski, Patriots
Injury: He added to his career-long list of injuries when he tore his right ACL and MCL in an early December win over Cleveland.
How he’s doing: Gronkowski rehabbed at the Patriots’ facility during their initial conditioning and workout sessions last month. He is expected to be on hand this week but barring a dramatic change, will not participate. For what it’s worth, he appeared to show good mobility while hanging out with Johnny Manziel in Las Vegas over the holiday weekend, according to multiple reports.
4. QB Eli Manning, Giants
Injury: Manning had arthroscopic surgery done on his left ankle in early April, after it didn’t improve with rest after spraining it in the regular-season finale.
How he’s doing: Despite the Giants declaring him out until training camp, he did football drills and took about half of the reps at their conditioning and workout sessions earlier this month, roughly a month after surgery. Expect the Giants to still keep him on a short rope when their OTAs begin Wednesday.
5. QB Cam Newton, Panthers
Injury: Newton had long-standing ligament problems in his left ankle surgically repaired in March and sat out the first stage of offseason work last month.
How he’s doing: The Panthers want him nowhere near any contact before training camp, so he is sitting out this wave of OTAs, which begin Tuesday. That’s unlucky for him and the Panthers, who turned over virtually their entire receiving corps in the offseason.
6. WR Jeremy Maclin, Eagles
Injury: He tore his right ACL on the first full day of training camp — Chip Kelly’s inaugural camp — last July.
How he’s doing: Maclin told Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia last month that he was “fully recovered” and would have no limitations if camp were to start that day. He participated in the first stage of offseason workouts and told reporters afterwards that he clicked with quarterback Nick Foles with no problem.
7. LB NaVorro Bowman, 49ers
Injury: On a play that everybody would be just fine with never seeing replayed again, Bowman tore his left ACL while trying to recover the fumble he forced in the NFC Championship Game in Seattle in January.
How he’s doing: Bowman lifted weights during the conditioning phase of the 49ers’ first offseason workout last month. He told the San Jose Mercury-News that he was “not really thinking about practice or anything yet.” His returned is scheduled for midseason, so OTAs and minicamps are out.
8. WR Julio Jones, Falcons
Injury: Off to the hottest start of his career, Jones underwent surgery on his foot in October after he broke a bone during a Monday night loss to the Jets.
How he’s doing: Head coach Mike Smith said at the start of offseason workouts last month that Jones would be limited in OTAs and minicamps and that getting him back for the season opener was the priority.
9. DT Geno Atkins, Bengals
Injury: In the midst of another likely Pro Bowl season, Atkins tore his ACL in a Thursday night game in October against the Dolphins.
How he’s doing: The team and player have stayed silent on his progress, but the Bengals’ official website reported last week, in response to a reader’s question, that Atkins would not practice until after training camp starts. So while he is at their OTA this week (and stretched with his teammates), don’t expect him to work this week or in the remaining sessions or minicamp.
10. CB/S Tyrann Mathieu, Cardinals
Injury: The rookie tore the ACL and LCL in his left knee in December against the Rams.
How he’s doing: Initially the Cardinals expected him to begin the season on the PUP list, but general manager Steve Keim told Sirius XM radio last week that Mathieu’s rehab is moving along so well, he could be back by their Monday night season opener. He will not practice before training camp, and likely not at the start of it.