Each year, an award is given to an NFL player who overcame adversity. This season’s Comeback Player of the Year was Washington’s Alex Smith, a well-deserved honor for a quarterback who recovered from a gruesome injury.
But what if each team had a Comeback Player of the Year? There would certainly be some good options for the Vikings.
With that in mind, who would win a hypothetical Comeback Player of the Year award for the Vikings? Personally, I think there’s one choice that stands out among the rest: Adam Thielen.
Thielen had an injury-marred 2019 where he had 418 yards in 10 games played. He had a great playoff performance against the Saints, but there was no guarantee that he’d be the kind of player who could put up big numbers for an entire season, especially without Stefon Diggs.
This season, Thielen relieved all doubt as to whether the injury would hinder his play. He finished with 925 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns. The wideout remained a stellar target for Kirk Cousins. He also was a veteran presence for a young wide receiver corps.
Thielen came back from a tough injury and found a way to be productive again. For Comeback Player of the Year, there are some other options for Minnesota, but, personally, Thielen is my choice.
