Last season they ranked as young up-and-comers, players who might emerge and establish themselves as key contributors, but those plans got sidetracked in a hurry.

The players failed to earn a significant a role as expected. Worse, some of them wound up on injured reserve.

So they toiled in the background, working on scout teams or rehabilitating with an eye on the organized team activity practices in May and June, aiming for a fresh start at training camp next month when they can again raise hopes and expectations.

Among young players in such situations, we picked eight who may be in line for a 2008 breakout:
Paul Posluszny, LB, Buffalo Bills

The Bills were ravaged by injuries last season and expect an influx of talent back. Posluszny was the second pick of the second round in 2007, but suffered a broken forearm three weeks into the season and was finished.

The middle linebacker was very productive and versatile at Penn State. The Bills hope those qualities mean he can help anchor Buffalo's defense as the Bills look to get into the Wild Card mix in the AFC.
Dwayne Jarrett, WR, Carolina Panthers

A second-round choice last season, Dwayne Jarrett was viewed by many as a physical possession type who would replace Keyshawn Johnson and take a bit of pressure off Steve Smith. But Jarrett played in just seven games, catching six passes for 73 yards.

He'll compete for a role and playing time against free-agent additions Muhsin Muhammad and D. J. Hackett.

Jarrett feels like he'll be in better position to help.

"You've got a lot of guys coming in who don't realize the adjustment you have to make," he told the Charlotte Observer recently. "Some just get there faster than others, including myself."
Manny Lawson, LB, San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers are in major need of a dominant edge pass rusher in their 3-4 front. They had only 23 sacks last season and no end or outside backer posted more than three.

Lawson may have a chance to be that guy. A first-round pick out of North Carolina State in 2006, he played in only two games before suffering a season-ending knee injury.
Dan Cody, DE/LB, Baltimore Ravens

A second-round pick out of Oklahoma in 2005, Cody came with an intriguing blend of power and speed. But he missed his rookie season with a knee injury, played just two games in 2006 and was not available last season.

Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan recently sang Cody's praises to ESPN.com: "He's never been able to get on the field to really show everybody what he's got. But right now, we've got him with his hand in the dirt. He's rushing the passer and he looks fantastic to me."
Jarvis Moss, DE, Denver Broncos

Denver's top draft pick from 2007 played in just six games with one start as a rookie before he was finished by a fractured right fibula and torn ankle ligaments.

He may not earn a starting spot until he proves he can be effective against the run, which was a big team weakness last season — the Broncos gave up 142 yards a game and 4.6 yards a carry.

Yet only one lineman played as much as 70 percent of the snaps last season, according to the Denver Post, and the Broncos will look to Moss for more.
Erasmus James, DE, Washington Redskins

James had left knee reconstruction surgery twice in two years and the Vikings decided to move on, dealing the 18th pick from the 2005 draft to the Redskins for a conditional seventh-round pick.

Washington will be patient with James, but hopes he can ultimately be a piece of a defense looking to move up from No. 16 against the pass.

"If we're smart about it, whatever he's got in his tank, we can get it out of him," defensive coordinator Greg Blache recently told the Washington Post. "Where coaches go awry is when they try to take a guy and push him and make him play before he's ready. We're going to let him play when he's ready."

"If it takes us a little while, we'll have the patience to wait for him to get well. ... The secret is that if you can get him healthy and keep him healthy, you're going to have a good football player."
Daniel Bullocks, S, Detroit Lions

He was expected to take over at free safety last season, but suffered a season-ending knee injury in the third preseason game. A second-round pick in 2006, he came out of Nebraska rated as a very good athlete whose intensity could translate to either safety position.

Detroit had the league's worst defense in 2007, and it added four veterans to the mix in the secondary — cornerbacks Leigh Bodden and Brian Kelly and safeties Dwight Smith and Kalvin Pearson.

But the two new safeties look to be options at strong safety, while the plan appears to call for Bullocks to return to his pre-injury course at free safety.
Antonio Johnson, DT, Tennessee Titans

Johnson blew out his left knee in training camp last year and his injury thinned out the interior rotation, which was insufficient after Albert Haynesworth and Tony Brown.

With Haynesworth currently out of the picture while his contract issues are sorted out, Johnson has worked in the starting right tackle spot and is giving the Titans cause for optimism.

Defensive line coach Jim Washburn has said Johnson is better one-on-one against a sled than any defensive lineman he's got. The challenge now is for Johnson to translate those skills into his snaps on the field with the full team. If he can, he should rank as a key contributor.

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