Joe Burrow

A comeback story is always motivating and inspiring for people to read about or witness on TV shows and movies.  However, when it comes to comebacks in sports, there’s a lot of intense action, drama, and excitement, whether from a team or an individual perspective. When the 2026 regular season kicks off, we’re going to be treated to some wild and epic comebacks by individual athletes recovering from injuries and looking to play the best football of their lives after a down season. Here at TPS, we’re going to look at 10 NFL players who are plotting an epic comeback for the 2026 regular season and give our take on them. Which NFL stars are on a comeback trail in 2026? Patrick MahomesPatrick Mahomes (Photo Via Imagn Images) Mahomes is plotting an epic comeback for the ages after recovering from a torn ACL and LCL he endured in Week 15 against the Los Angeles Chargers in the 2025 season. Mahomes underwent accelerated rehabilitation, working closely with the Chiefs’ physical therapist, Julie Frymyer, and gained full medical clearance in July, as he looks to start for the team by Week One. He is learning to adapt to potentially limited initial mobility, as his knee strength builds, even though he rushed for a career-high 422 yards in 2025. Not to mention, Mahomes is transitioning to more pocket passing, as he looks to thrive on the inside of the safety pocket, rather than take any jarring risks. The Chiefs’ signing of Super Bowl LX MVP Kenneth Walker III will help relieve Mahomes from using his legs, as he’s a true physical workhorse running back. Offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy also returns to the Chiefs, who helped Mahomes and the Chiefs win two Super Bowls, and will tailor an offensive scheme that will help him mask his personal flaws and maximize more pocket passes. George KittleGeorge Kittle. Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images After suffering an Achilles injury during the 49ers’ Wildcard Playoff win against the Philadelphia Eagles, Kittle is planning a wild comeback for the ages in the NFL in 2026.  Surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache performed a successful surgery on Kittle in mid-January 2026, expressing strong optimism in Kittle’s recovery, as the tear was in a best-case scenario location, and the surgical team didn’t need to drill into Kittle’s heel bone to anchor the tendon. Because of that, Kittle is ahead of schedule in his recovery, thanks to advanced stem-cell treatments and his decision to opt into the SpeedBridge procedure. Kittle has gone through six months of a heavy-lifting regimen post-surgery, and went viral for deadlifting a massive 665 pounds for reps, and handling multi-round golf walking excursions just eight weeks post-op. When back on the field, Kittle is about 30 receptions, 67 yards, and seven touchdowns away from matching the career stat averages of current Hall of Fame tight ends, which will for sure earn him a bust in Canton. In mid-July, Kittle resumed running routes, even though the 49ers originally placed him on the physically unable to perform list (PUP list). Team general manager John Lynch has said Kittle is doing everything he can to suit up for the season opener.  Kittle is expected to return to an expanded role on the 49ers’ offense, and he has expressed excitement about working with veteran wide receivers Mike Evans and Christian Kirk joining the roster.  Kyler MurrayKyler Murray. Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images After dealing with a grueling foot injury, which also ended his tenure with the Arizona Cardinals, Murray is ready to make an epic comeback with the Minnesota Vikings for the 2026 season. Murray signed a low-risk $1.3 million deal with the Vikings during the offseason, opening the door for quarterback competition between him and J. J. McCarthy, who had an awful 2025 season. If Murray wins the starting job, he’ll work with one of the league’s best pass-catchers, consisting of Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, along with T. J. Hockenson.  Not to mention, head coach Kevin O’Connell is a quarterback guru who has gotten the best out of Kirk Cousins and Sam Darnold when they played for the Vikings. Because Murray missed 21 games over the past few seasons due to his ACL tear and foot injury, 2026 marks the furthest he’s been from his major knee surgery.  Analysts have projected that Murray will be fully healthy and ready to maximize his dual-threat capabilities under O’Connell’s watch. Murray will also have to adjust to O’Connell’s under-center offense, as he was used to being in shotgun formations during his time with the Cardinals, but he should have no problem learning from him, as it has the potential to improve his downfield efficiency.  It should be exciting to see Murray rebound with the Vikings and play fairly well for them in the regular season if he earns the starting job for Week One. Malik NabersMalik Nabers. Credit: Julian Leshay Guadalupe/NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Nabers is plotting his 2026 comeback by focusing on a physical ramp-up following a complex knee injury he suffered during Week Four of the 2025 NFL season. Following Nabers’ ACL surgery in October 2025, he underwent a second cleanup surgery in early 2026. The surgery targeted a cyclops lesion (scar tissue buildup) that limited his knee’s range of motion and was causing him stiffness. In recent good news for Nabers, the Giants didn’t place him on the PUP list at the start of training camp, keeping him eligible to get suited up for the team’s week one matchup against the Dallas Cowboys at home.  Nabers has been performing well at training camp practice by participating in individual route-running drills and walkthroughs. He has also stated he’s simply stacking the days to let his body set the pace for what’s to come. When Nabers is back on the field for games, he’ll likely become Jaxson Dart’s X-factor receiver in a brand new offensive scheme drawn up by offensive coordinator Matt Nagy. We, as football fans, are looking forward to seeing Nabers catch passes from Dart and help in their respective development. Aaron DonaldAaron Donald (Photo Via Imagn Images) Although Aaron Donald retired from play after the 2023 season, there have been rumors about him wanting to come out of retirement and rejoin the Rams after all of their incredible offseason acquisitions for Myles Garrett, Trent McDuffie, and Jaylon Watson. Having the potential opportunity to play with Garrett on defense would be once in a lifetime, as both Donald and Garrett are two elite defenders who know how to cause havoc against opposing offenses.  Donald completed a 45-minute workout for the Rams in full helmet and pads at the team’s training facility, which is a sign that he wants to be back on the field. At 35 years old, Donald is using his multi-year retirement sabbatical as a physical advantage, which allows his joints to fully heal. If Donald does rejoin the Rams, head coach Sean McVay and the team are expected to completely bypass training camp and use a heavily condensed practice schedule, which will optimize him for a late-season run and a deep playoff run.  Seeing Donald on the field again would be the ultimate cherry on top for the Rams, as they’re currently favored to win Super Bowl LXI, thanks to their offseason moves, as mentioned earlier.  Micah ParsonsMicah Parsons. Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images Parsons is planning his epic 2026 comeback in the NFL by targeting a potential return during the Packers’ week six matchup against his former team, the Dallas Cowboys. As we know, Parsons is still recovering from a non-contact ACL injury he suffered in the Packers’ Week 15 game against the Denver Broncos and is currently on the PUP list. Instead of focusing on the delay, Parsons has been leveraging a fierce mindset for his return, with grueling daily rehab and learning a new defensive scheme under defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon. Parsons has arrived at Lambeau Field daily at 7:30 a.m. to train with team athletic trainer Nate Weir; he goes through mental reps via film review, learning defensive installations, and walk-throughs to be fully synchronized with the team’s playbook.  When Parsons returns to action, he issued a warning to his opponents, saying, “People are worried about the knee; they should be worried about how I’m feeling going to play when I get back. The anger, the frustration, the things that I’m going to have to let out because of how it’s been since I played… that’s what people should really worry about.” Parsons has also stated that he feels more stable than ever, which is a huge warning sign for opposing offenses that have to square off against him and the Packers in key games.  Joe BurrowCincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (Sam Greene/The Enquirer-USA TODAY NETWORK) Burrow is plotting his epic comeback for the 2026 NFL season by re-engineering his on-field playstyle, relying on a custom medical insert that will protect his lower body, and capitalizing on the newly rebuilt Bengals’ defense. Burrow and head coach Zac Taylor are installing a revamped systematic approach by spending time during training camp reps taking snaps directly under center rather than operating from the shotgun. This shift aims to establish a more consistent ground game that’ll give Burrow time for extra deep-ball play-action opportunities to Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, with the intention of limiting drop-back hits. Burrow is wearing a specialized protective plate inside his left shoe to anchor his planting foot and support his repaired toe, which was injured with a turf toe in the 2025 season. Burrow has said he plans to wear this plate for the rest of his career. On top of that, this Bengals team is the most talented it’s been in a long while, as the front office did everything they could to establish a win-now roster around Burrow for a chance at making a deep playoff run. If Burrow and the Bengals reach the playoffs for the first time since the 2022 season, it would be one of the most satisfying comebacks the league will witness.  Nick BosaNick Bosa (Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images) After dealing with an injured ACL that cut his season short, Bosa is planning an epic comeback for the 2026 season, focusing on structural leg changes and a slower, more methodical rehabilitation schedule to achieve a faster, more effective return. In a major shift from previous recoveries, Bosa has noted that he is purposefully carrying less mass in his legs, as he realized he moved much faster with less muscle volume from his 2020 ACL recovery. Embracing this change again has made Bosa much faster and should increase his speed, generating greater functional power off the edge for more powerful results. Bosa went through a hyper-intensive rehab timeline and structured an 11-month physical therapy process, which paid off when he was cleared to start training camp without being placed on the PUP list. The 49ers struggled without Bosa’s presence on defense, finishing the 2025 season with just 20 sacks. With Bosa back in the lineup in 2026, it’ll take the 49ers’ defense to new heights for the upcoming NFL season. Bosa also steps into a mentorship role for the upcoming regular season, as he’ll groom the younger defensive linemen and edge rushers, like Mykel Williams and rookie Romello Height, for the intensity of NFL action. Jayden DanielsOct 19, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) calls a play at the line of scrimmage against the Dallas Cowboys =d2q of the game at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images After dealing with an injury-riddled 2025 season, Daniels is planning his epic comeback in 2026 by transforming his physical frame, stepping into a newly modified offensive scheme, and having access to new offensive weapons for the upcoming NFL season. To handle the physical toll of the league’s best defenses, Daniels spent the offseason focused on durability by bulking up and adding lean muscle mass to serve as more armor against the hits that sidelined him in the 2025 season.  The Commanders replaced Kliff Kingsbury with new offensive coordinator David Blough, who’ll implement a new, much safer scheme for Daniels to work with instead of the shotgun-heavy spreads from 2025.  By keeping Daniels under center, it naturally creates deeper pockets, resulting in better play-action opportunities. Coaches have emphasized that winning in the pocket first will reduce downfield hits, even though Daniels is an elite rusher. The Commanders’ front office spent the offseason acquiring Daniels’ new offensive weapons for him to work with, such as Stefon Diggs, Chig Okonkwo, and rookie receiver Antonio Williams, which will do wonders for Daniels.  Not to mention, the offensive line was further bolstered by signing Laremy Tunsil to a two-year, $60.2 million extension, providing Daniels with the protection he needs. With Daniels fully healthy for the 2026 regular season, it puts him in a strong position to erase the 2025 season and possibly guide the Commanders back to the playoffs for a serious run. Odell Beckham Jr.Odell Beckham Jr (Photo By Danielle Parhizkaran / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images) When OBJ re-signed with the Giants, it opened the door for him to orchestrate his epic comeback for the 2026 season.  OBJ is now focusing his strategy on making the final 53-man roster, as he’s dropped weight to reduce the burden on his previously injured knees.  OBJ has been taking advantage of extra opportunities while fellow receiver Malik Nabers works his way back from his ACL injury by stringing impressive, fully padded practices and earning first-team reps with starting quarterback Jaxson Dart. Unlike his first stint with the Giants, Beckham Jr. is in mentorship mode, as he’s been praised for his maturity, mellow attitude, and locker-room leadership.  Not to mention, he’s familiar with head coach John Harbaugh, who coached OBJ during his brief stint with the Baltimore Ravens. If OBJ makes the Giants’ 53-man roster and stays productive during the regular season, it’ll be a great win in his book and proof that he still has some fuel in the tank in the NFL in 2026.