Choose it up, Guys! 7 NFL Gamers Who Desperately Must Get on Monitor

Whereas a sluggish begin shouldn’t be a demise sentence for gamers who stumble out of the gate, blue-chip gamers work with their coaches to seek out varied methods to get their manufacturing and efficiency again on monitor. 

For sure gamers who have been being counted on to make big contributions to their respective groups, some up to now have underwhelmed in 2025.

In taking a protracted, exhausting take a look at the All-22 coaches’ footage by way of the season’s quarter level, these seven guys desperately must get again on monitor: 

Derrick Henry, RB, Baltimore Ravens

It’s exhausting to knock the “King” for his stellar manufacturing (49 carries for 284 yards and three scores) when he’s tied for the NFL lead with 4 20-yard-plus runs as a 31-year-old RB1. Nevertheless, Henry’s fumbling woes have contributed to the Ravens’ woeful begin and made the two-time speeding champ a paranoid runner inside the crowd. The veteran’s newfound timidness has diminished his effectiveness, as he has completed with 50 or fewer speeding yards in every of the previous three video games. Given his impression as a super-sized workhorse with a devastating stiff-arm, Henry’s incapability to safe the ball with one hand has robbed the Professional Bowler of his best superpower. 

Geno Smith, QB, Las Vegas Raiders 

As Pete Carroll’s handpicked QB1, Smith was anticipated to stabilize the place for the Raiders as a high-end “recreation supervisor” with big-play potential. The veteran has been a serious disappointment, with seven interceptions by way of 4 video games (most within the NFL) and an abysmally low passer score (79.1) that ranks close to the underside of the league. Smith’s inconsistencies and blunders have put the Raiders behind the eight-ball regardless of taking part in properly sufficient to sit down at .500 or higher on the quarter-pole. If the veteran can regain his Professional Bowl type and play the sort of “profitable soccer” (minimal turnovers and environment friendly passing) that made Carroll hand him the ball because the Raiders’ new franchise quarterback, the Silver and Black can climb again into the race as a playoff contender. 

Sauce Gardner, CB, New York Jets 

The All-Professional has been mired in a hunch because the starting of 2024, along with his sloppy method resulting in 10 penalties (9 accepted) final season. The disturbing development has continued with Gardner main the Jets with 4 penalties (three accepted) and rating among the many prime 5 in penalties for cornerbacks this season. Whereas he has steered the referees are choosing on him as a result of Jets’ shedding methods, the veteran’s incapability to cowl with out holding makes the staff’s four-year, $120 million dedication to the previous first-rounder seem like one other dangerous funding. 

Brian Thomas Jr., WR, Jacksonville Jaguars

The second-year professional was anticipated to play as a top-five wideout because the Jaguars’ No. 1 possibility in a playmaker-friendly offense directed by Liam Coen. Regardless of the staff’s greatest efforts, Thomas has simply 12 catches by way of 4 video games and has struggled with drops regardless of being the staff’s most focused receiver (32). With an abysmal 37.5% catch fee revealing the inefficiency and ineffectiveness of constructing the passing recreation across the second-year professional, the stress is on Thomas to interrupt out of his hunch and re-emerge because the WR1 that was anticipated to compete for All-Professional honors in 2025. 

Jawaan Taylor, OT, Kansas Metropolis Chiefs

A part of Kansas Metropolis’s offensive woes stem from the veteran’s struggles on the sting, because the league chief in penalties (7). Taylor’s penchant for pre-snap fouls (3) and holding penalties (4) is a part of a development that has seen the veteran amass 42 penalties since 2023. These staggering numbers overshadow his effectiveness as a go protector as a result of drive-killing impact of the penalties. Although Andy Reid stays dedicated to his beginning proper sort out, Taylor should repair his points to assist the Chiefs get again on monitor as a high-powered offense. 

Chris Olave, WR, New Orleans Saints

The previous first-rounder has did not spark the Saints’ offense regardless of possessing the route-running capacity and big-play potential to flourish as a WR1 in Kellen Moore’s system. Olave is averaging simply 7.1 yards per catch regardless of being focused on 43 passes (26 catches) as the point of interest of the passing recreation. Although Moore has tried to get the ball into the fourth-year professional’s palms by any means essential, Olave’s manufacturing has not pressured opponents to tweak their scheme to account for his whereabouts, opening up the sector for his teammates. With minimal contributions from their WR1, the Saints’ offensive woes will proceed till Moore finds a technique to unlock Olave’s skills. 

Elgton Jenkins, C, Inexperienced Bay Packers

The veteran utility man was anticipated to make a easy transition to the pivot, however has struggled mightily because the Packers’ beginning heart. Jenkins has allowed two sacks and 5 pressures, per PFF, after surrendering only one sack and 16 pressures in 2024. The seventh-year professional’s struggles are one of many greatest disappointments for a staff working with a “Tremendous Bowl or bust” mentality, given the superior expertise on their roster. Though Jenkins can make the most of the bye week to get again on monitor and switch issues round, the veteran should play higher for the Packers to re-emerge as title contenders by season’s finish. 

Bucky Brooks is an NFL analyst for FOX Sports activities. He additionally breaks down the sport for NFL Community and as a cohost of the “Transferring the Sticks” podcast. Comply with him on Twitter @BuckyBrooks.

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