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

Earl Thomas, S, Baltimore Ravens

Earl Thomas had to have had the most emotion-filled injury this year.

In the ensuing moments after suffering a devastating leg injury in a week four division game against Arizona; an offensive gesture towards his own sideline was made by Thomas during his carts departure off the field. Thomas had held out due to contract negotiations with Seattle throughout the off-season.

Thomas surely seemed to have had enough, and signed to the Ravens on a four-year, $55 million contract in free agency this offseason, officially marking the end of the Legion of Boom.

Thomas will be more than welcomed, and happy, in his arrival to Baltimore this fall. Ravens head coach John Harbaugh had the top defense last year whose defensive backfield aided in allowing an average of under 20 points per game and a league-best allowed completion percentage of just 58.4 percent.

Thomas should feel right at home with the support around him this upcoming season and holds great potential to be honored 2019 NFL Comeback Player of the Year.

Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, San Francisco 49ers

No absence hurt a team worse than when San Fransico 49ers new and hopeful franchise QB, Jimmy Garoppolo, tore his ACL in the third game of the regular season against the Kansas City Chiefs.

After starting behind Tom Brady on New England’s depth chart for three years the quarterback from got his start late last season after landing in the 415 when he was traded from the Patriots to San Fran last October.

Even with a one-win team at the time, he displayed optimal results and threw for over 1,500 yards and earning the 49ers five straight wins in his first five starts in his 2017 red and gold showing.

Though the 2018 season was supposed to be different for the 49ers. Before the season-ending injury, Garropolo showed that he didn’t slow down from his late arrival the year prior, throwing for 718 yards and averaging a 60% completion rate in only three games.

The team was dropped from prime time games against two division rivals and were counted out by many analysts and fans right when the season started rolling. They finished with a displeasing 4-12 record.

Garoppolo is poised to finally demonstrate his full potential and make himself an obvious candidate for this year’s NFL CPOTY. According to head coach Kyle Shanahan, Garoppolo will be cleared for team drills when training camp begins in late July.