There are quite a bit of NFL players that have been disappointing thus far. Many disappointments are detrimental to their team, while others are less urgent. Here are the seven most disappointing NFL Players so far this 2023 season:
Joe Burrow:
Joe Burrow's performance thus far this season has been no short of abysmal. He has looked like a completely different quarterback from that of previous seasons, completing a career-worst 57.6% of passes, a 69.1 QB rating, and a measly two touchdowns. If there's one aspect of the team to blame for the Bengals' disappointing 1-3 start, it is the disappointing performance of their quarterback. The primary cause for Burrow's subpar play has been a recent calf injury, though the Bengals can probably win more games with a Jake Browning at 100% health than a Joe Burrow at 75%. Burrow needs to get back to speed quickly, or else the Bengals' playoff hopes could be over before they even begin.
Miles Sanders:
Panthers' running back Miles Sanders is following up a career-best 2022 season with a lackluster 2023 season. Despite a rookie quarterback at the helm, Sanders has had a light workload for a 1,269-yard rusher in the year prior, with not a single 20+ carry game. Nevertheless, Sanders has not capitalized on his minimal carries and is on pace for just 671 rushing yards and 344 receiving yards for the entire season. After thriving as a red zone back on an Eagles' offense with a deep set of running weapons, the Panthers are making Sanders a dual threat, which clearly isn't working. The team switch from 2022 to 2023 is the primary cause for Miles Sanders's disappointing season.
Devin Lloyd:
After a promising rookie season, the Jaguars' coverage linebacker has been a disappointment so far this season. After a season in which he racked up 119 combined tackles, he is only on pace of 80 and has gotten no interceptions or forced fumbles. Devin Lloyd's recent underperformance can be masked by the Jaguars' defense, ranking 12th in points allowed through the first four games. Not only will the Jags' defense benefit from Lloyd's resurgence, but they may need it down the stretch.
Cameron Jordan:
Cam Jordan has been one of the NFL's most effective and consistent defensive ends for many seasons, but that elite pass rushing throughout his career has not been present so far this season. With only 0.5 sacks and 13 combined tackles through the first four games, Jordan looks like a completely different player from that of his six 10+ sack seasons. Age is certainly a factor, as he is in his 13th NFL season at age 34. Cam Jordan is not getting any younger, though he could pull off a career renaissance like the 32-year-old pass-rushing linebacker Khalil Mack.
Josh Jacobs:
After leading the league in rushing yards in the prior season, it is massively disappointing that Josh Jacobs only ranks 32nd through four games with 166, along with other substandard statistics. Jacobs was a key weapon to the Raiders' offense in the previous season, but he is now just a complementary piece despite getting the same workload. So far this season, the league's top rusher of 2022 has run for a measly 2.7 yards per carry, a single touchdown, and is on pace for a career-worst 706 yards for the entire season. Sitting at 1-3, the Raiders are in desperate need of quality rushers, and Josh Jacobs needs to fit that description as soon as possible.
Patrick Surtain II:
In previous seasons, Patrick Surtain has been a cornerstone in one of the league's strongest defenses. Though this season, the Broncos' all-pro safety has been a massive disappointment on a defense that has allowed the third-most points, including a whopping 70 to the Dolphins in week 3. Surtain's statistics through the first four games are substandard, to say the least, with only 13 combined tackles, one assist, and no interceptions or forced fumbles. There seems to be a pattern with these disappointing players, being their team is heavily relying on them to turn things around, and Patrick Surtain's situation is no different. The Broncos are sitting at 1-3, lacking at least an average defense to keep them in games.
Donovan Peoples-Jones:
Donovan Peoples-Jones has never been a no.1 or 1,000-yard wideout, but rather a quality no.2 slot receiver that can be relied on to get open over the middle via an in route. Though he has been a non-factor on a 6th-worst ranked Browns' offense. Despite losing star running back Nick Chubb to a season-ending ACL tear, Peoples-Jones has only been targeted 3.5 times per game on average, only caught 42.8% of those targets, and fumbled the ball on one of those measly six catches. The Browns team does not desperately need his return to form, as his underperformance could be caused by the new offensive scheme with Deshaun Watson now at quarterback. Donovan Peoples-Jones should get more separation more often if he wants to be icluded more in the scheme.
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