This 2019 NFL season has seen many impressive and valuable players at many positions. But the four players listed below should be serious candidates for the 2019 NFL Comeback Player of the Year.
2019 NFL Comeback Player of the Year Candidates
Jimmy Garoppolo, Quarterback (San Francisco 49ers)
It was a difficult start for Jimmy Garoppolo’s career with the San Francisco 49ers in 2018. Garoppolo needed a huge restart this season after tearing his ACL early in his first full season with San Francisco last year. This season has shown that not only is he a starting-caliber quarterback, but he’s also good enough to lead a team to the Super Bowl. Garoppolo has led his team to an 11-3 record so far and potentially home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. Through 14 games, he has passed for 3,445 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions on 295 completions (out of 427 attempts).
He has also accounted for a quarterback rating of 102.8, which is eighth-best in the league. In Week 14, Garoppolo was named NFC offensive player of the week after passing for 349 yards, four touchdowns and only one interception on 26 completions (out of 35 attempts). This was the 48-46 victory the Niners got on the road against the New Orleans Saints. After playing in only three games last season, Garoppolo is making the best out of a great offensive scheme by head coach Kyle Shanahan and a stout run game.
Travis Frederick, Center (Dallas Cowboys)
The Dallas Cowboys were shocked to learn of Travis Frederick being placed on IR right before last season. Frederick missed all last season after being diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome. Before his diagnosis, Frederick had been selected to four Pro Bowls in his five years in the league. He was selected as a first-team All-Pro in 2016 and second-team All-Pro in 2014 and 2015. Frederick showed signs of improvement after a strong rookie season. His disease slowed him significantly, but it did not stop him. That was evident when he came back from IR this past off-season for the Cowboys.
Frederick has played in and started all 14 games for the Cowboys this season. Before the Week 15 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, Frederick has played in 100% of the team’s offensive snaps, excluding the Week one matchup against the New York Giants when he participated in 96% of the offensive snaps. Frederick has been a consistent blocker for the Cowboys stout offensive line. They have given up the least amount of sacks so far this season with 18. His reliability on the line and come back from his disease makes him one of the most respectable players.
Quarterback Ryan Tannehill (Tennessee Titans)
Most players that are in the running for Comeback Player of the Year are recognized for their return from a recent injury. But Ryan Tannehill is in a special category since he was traded from the Miami Dolphins to the Tennessee Titans to be a backup. He was brought in as insurance in case Marcus Mariota couldn’t live up to his high-value selection in the 2014 NFL Draft. Tannehill missed all the 2017 season due to a torn ACL. He recovered well for 2018 but still faced turmoil with a struggling team. It was believed that he wouldn’t rebound after being traded to Tennessee.
Since taking over as the starting quarterback of the Titans, Tannehill has accounted for a 6-2 record. So far this season, he has passed for 2,272 yards, 17 touchdowns, and six interceptions on 171 completions (out of 239 attempts). The Titans have gone from questioning Mariota and potentially looking for another franchise quarterback to potentially placing the franchise tag on Tannehill to keep him under center next season. Even if the Titans don’t earn a trip to the playoffs, Tannehill has done enough to secure his starting spot. His talent has always been there but he needed a new outlook and team to be a starter.
Wide receiver Cooper Kupp (Los Angeles Rams)
It’s more common to give the Comeback Player of the Year award to someone who missed almost the entire season. Last season, Cooper Kupp played in eight games for the Los Angeles Rams, who represented the NFC in the Super Bowl. In Week 10, he suffered a torn ACL that severely weakened the passing offense of the Rams. Kupp was truly becoming a more explosive receiver in the league before he tore his ACL.
In 14 games this season, Kupp has caught 83 receptions for 1,031 yards, and eight touchdowns. Kupp is currently 12th in the league in total receiving yards accounted for. He has been the main scorer in the Rams passing game as no other receiver has more than two touchdowns this season. Not only has Kupp come back and performed well for the Rams but he is becoming one of the top receivers in the league in only his third year. He has been one of the brightest spots on the team in an otherwise slightly disappointing season for Los Angeles.
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