Will Pro Bowl cornerback Jason Verrett bounce back from recent injury?

Once upon a time, Jason Verrett was the Los Angeles Chargers’ top cornerback, but will he ever get back to that elite Pro Bowl level that he once was?

The Chargers’ defense finished third in passing yards per game behind the Minnesota Vikings and Jacksonville Jaguars. After starting the season 0-4, the team as a whole went on a winning streak. Losing Jason Verrett was a huge blow for this team but cornerback Trevor Williams stepped up to the plate and had a solid performance.

Verrett hasn’t played a full season since being with the Chargers which is a growing concern. Within his first four seasons, the star from TCU’s career has consisted of 72 tackles, 19 pass deflections and five INT’s. The last two seasons, the cornerback has only played a total of five games. During that span, Casey Hayward became one of the league’s best corners.

Verrett suffered a partial ACL tear last year which lingered during the beginning of the season, causing him to go on the injured reserve list. The effects of his injury later caused him to have surgery on his left knee. Listed at 5-foot-9, height was a growing concern for him coming into the NFL, but his speed and physicality made up for that.

General manager Tom Telesco said the team will likely exercise Verrett’s fifth-year option on his contract this offseason. Verrett is set to make $8.526 million in 2018 if he’s on the roster.

If he returns next season, he will join a crowded group of cornerbacks. A combination of Hayward, Verrett, Desmond King and  Williams could be one of, if not the league’s most feared secondaries.

It’s going to be interesting to see how well the Pro Bowl corner plays next year. He has a lot to prove not only to this team but to himself.