Does player performance get nerfed as new, higher-rated players get introduced?

I know the stats don’t change, but it stands to reason that old player cards must have their performance nerfed as new higher-OVR cards are rolled out. Otherwise, the speed and quickness of each new set of players would just creep up and up to the point where the game would be played at absolute break-neck speed (especially since EA didn’t do a reset for the new season!). Right?

The reason I ask is because it became very noticeable recently that my 116 OVR Son (and to a lesser extent my 116 OVR Bale) no longer perform with the speed, quickness, and precision they did only a couple of weeks ago. I never had a problem scoring 10-12 goals in VSA and now these guys perform like they’re smoking crack — poor first touches, incomplete roulette spins, slower shots that get saved much more frequently, and just generally more sluggish movement. I’ve dropped -7 wins in just a week, and while that’s extremely frustrating I’d at least like to understand why it’s happening.