NFL 2019: Top Five Candidates for Comeback Player of the Year

These NFL players are looking to get their careers on track in 2019. Who are the top candidates to win the NFL Comeback Player of the Year in 2019?

Whether it be for injury or poor play, there are many strong candidates for the 2019 NFL Comeback Player of the Year. Who will be in the running for the award? Let’s take a look at the best candidates.

Cooper Kupp, WR, Los Angeles Rams

According to Pro Football Talk, Cooper Kupp has been taking it week by week to get healthy for the Los Angeles Rams season opener against the Carolina Panthers. Kupp injured a left knee ligament after attempting to block Seahawks defensive back Shaquill Griffin on a fourth-quarter run play of week 10 last season.

Kupp is an essential piece of head coach Sean McVay’s robust offense, who ranked fifth in NFL in total passing yards in 2018. Before his injury, Kupp racked up over 40 catches for 566 yards and six touchdowns at the slot position.

"“It’s been a long process for sure,” Kupp said, via Lindsey Thiry of ESPN. “I’ve been doing what I can to get back.”"

No matter how you put it, this mishap certainly had something to do with the team’s Super Bowl 53 chances.

The receivers presence seemed to be so vital that second-year quarterback Jared Goff‘s completion percentage dropped from 70.5 percent to 59 percent after Kupp’s injury, and his yards per passing attempt dropped a whole three percent; Goff’s touchdown-to-interception ratio took a significant blow as well.

According to ESPN, “In 420 plays [in 2018] with Kupp, the Rams’ third-down percentage was 47.1. In the 497 plays without him, it’s down to 38.5.”

With Brandin Cooks and Robert Woods still signed through 2019, Kupp still has a good chance to rebound to his former self. Simply put, Kupp has a good chance of returning to being one of the best slot receivers in the NFL in 2019.