Injuries are inevitable, every team every year. What can define a player after major injury is the determination to bounce back and perform like nothing happened. With, training camp upon us, the limelight is on the new rookies or big name free agents. The new year can also mean the return of a player who had their season cut short or never even truly began. From teams losing an offensive weapon to hopeful defensive cornerstones. These 5 players are hoping to be game changers once again in the upcoming season.
Mekhi Blackmon – Cornerback, Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings selected Mekhi Blackmon in the 3rd round of the 2023 NFL Draft, making him the first defensive pick of the Brian Flores era. With only one proven player at cornerback—free-agent acquisition Byron Murphy Jr.—Blackmon had a clear path to early playing time.
Despite starting just three games in his rookie season, Blackmon appeared in 16 and made the most of his opportunities. Over 329 coverage snaps, he notched 8 pass breakups, 1 interception, and allowed only 28 receptions—earning a solid 71.8 PFF coverage grade. He also showed reliability as a tackler, missing just two tackles in 41 total.
Poised for a breakout sophomore campaign as a full-time starter opposite Murphy, But a torn ACL in training camp derailed Blackmon’s season. Despite expectations, the Vikings opted not to draft a cornerback in 2024, signaling strong confidence in Blackmon’s future. With his skill set fitting seamlessly into Flores’ aggressive scheme, Blackmon expects to reclaim his trajectory and bolster an improved Minnesota defense in 2025.
B.J. Ojulari – Edge Rusher, Arizona Cardinals
A 2nd-round pick in 2023, B.J. Ojulari joined the Arizona Cardinals with high expectations, following in the footsteps of his brother Azeez Ojulari. As a rookie, B.J. served as a rotational pass rusher, flashing potential with a 13.4% pass rush win rate, 4 sacks, and 20 pressures on just 161 pass rush snaps.
In 2024, the Cardinals planned to elevate Ojulari into a starting role, banking on him to inject life into a pass rush with 1st rounder Zaven Collins not living up to his expectations. Unfortunately, an ACL tear in training camp wiped out Ojulari’s sophomore season.
His absence was deeply felt Arizona ranked 27th in team pressure rate and tied for second worst in pass rush win rate. Still just 23 years old, Ojulari has untapped potential and remains a cornerstone in the Cardinals’ rebuilding defense. With a clean bill of health, 2025 could be his breakout year.
Rashee Rice – Wide Receiver, Kansas City Chiefs
The most productive player from the 2023 draft class on this list, Rashee Rice, burst onto the scene in Kansas City. He scored a touchdown in his NFL debut and steadily gained trust from Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid. Rice closed his rookie season with six straight games of 5+ catches and 55+ yards, then dominated in the playoffs—most notably torching Miami with 8 receptions for 130 yards and a touchdown en route to a Super Bowl title.
To start 2024, Rice picked up right where he left off, tallying 288 yards on 24 receptions in the first three games. The Chiefs envisioned a high-octane offense featuring Rice, 1st-round speedster Xavier Worthy, and free-agent addition Hollywood Brown. However, in Week 4 disaster struck—Mahomes, trying to tackle a defender after an interception, inadvertently collided with Rice’s knee, tearing the young receiver’s LCL.
Rice had become essential to the Chiefs’ short-yardage and yards-after-catch strategies. His return gives Kansas City a real shot at reaching the Super Bowl again in 2025.
Derrick Brown – Defensive Tackle, Carolina Panthers
Since entering the NFL as the 7th overall pick in 2020, Derrick Brown has evolved into arguably the league’s best run-stopping interior lineman. In 2023, he left no doubt—posting a historic 103 tackles (a record for a defensive tackle) and 53 defensive stops. His 90.1 PFF run-defense grade over the past two seasons ranks 1st among all interior defenders.
Unfortunately, Brown suffered a torn meniscus in week 1 of the 2024 season. Without their anchor in the middle, the Panthers fielded the league’s worst run defense, allowing 179.8 rushing yards per game.
Looking ahead to 2025, Carolina didn’t just bank on Brown’s return—they added reinforcements in Tershawn Wharton and Bobby Brown III. With Brown back to full health and some new help inside, the Panthers hope to flip the script and build a defensive identity around their dominant run defender.
Jaelan Phillips – Edge Rusher, Miami Dolphins
Jaelan Phillips has never lacked talent—only availability. Once forced to medically retire in college after multiple injuries, including three concussions, Phillips resurrected his career at the University of Miami before being drafted 18th overall by the Dolphins in 2021.
He immediately made an impact, breaking the franchise rookie sack record (8.5) and posting a dominant 24% pass rush win rate in his sophomore season. He played all 17 games his first two seasons and was amid his best campaign in 2023 with 6.5 sacks in 8 games before tearing his Achilles.
2024 was meant to be his comeback—but just four games in, Phillips suffered a devastating ACL tear. Now entering 2025 with a clean slate, Phillips is again poised for a breakout. With the emergence of 1st-round pick Chop Robinson and Pro Bowler Bradley Chubb returning, the Dolphins’ pass rush could be among the NFL’s elite—if Phillips can stay on the field.
