The NFL often sees teams go from the bottom to the top from one season to the next. The Houston Texans did it last year and the Los Angeles Chargers have been a team that some have said could be this season's version of that squad.
After a 5-12 season, the Chargers are eager to show the league that the record was an aberration. As a result, several players are looking to bounce back in a big way.
Nick Faria of Pro Football Network recently wrote about one bounce-back candidate for each team in the league, selecting Justin Herbert for the Chargers.
While Herbert is a solid choice, I am going to do him a few better. Here are four bounce-back candidates for the Chargers. If all four of these guys bounce back the way the team feels they can, the Chargers could be a force in 2024.
Los Angeles Chargers 2024 bounce-back candidates
Justin Herbert, Quarterback
Justin Herbert had a rough 2024 season, mostly because he missed a good chunk of it with a broken finger, forcing the team to use Easton Stick down the stretch.
But the talent of Herbert is undeniable. He is still in the prime of his career and still one of the best quarterbacks in the league. As long as he's healthy, there is little doubt he will remain in that conversation, and any success that this team has starts with him.
J.K. Dobbins, Running back
J.K. Dobbins may have landed in the perfect situation after several injury-riddled seasons with the Baltimore Ravens. He is still just 25 years old.
Now in Los Angeles, he gets the familiarity of his old running mate Gus Edwards in an offense that will be heavily focused on establishing the running game. He won't have to be the bellcow guy in L.A. and should have plenty of motivation to prove himself again.
With a good season, Dobbins could be the in NFL Comeback Player of the Year discussion.
Quentin Johnston, Wide receiver
If there is a player on this list who needs to bounce back more than any of the others, it's second-year wide receiver Quentin Johnston. He just looked bad as a rookie and didn't provide a lot of hope about his future.
Quentin Johnston… man. pic.twitter.com/8XZrkEsOsE
— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) December 3, 2023
But Johnston seems reinvigorated now that Jim Harbaugh is the head coach and the hope is that year two will be much bigger for him.
The numbers won't be hard to beat. Johnston caught just 38 passes as a rookie for 431 yards and two touchdowns.
Joey Bosa, Defensive end
In his first six seasons in the league, Joey Bosa posted 59 sacks. But he has been able to play in just 14 total games across the last two seasons due to injuries and has added just eight more sacks in that time.
The Chargers had dreams of Bosa and Khalil Mack wreaking havoc on quarterbacks last year but Bosa was lost for much of the season with an injury.
Bosa will be 29 years old next month and he has been the subject of trade rumors all offseason. He needs to put his name back on the map as one of the league's best defensive players.
