Green Bay Packers

Green Bay Packers: Jordy Nelson the comeback player of the year

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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The NFL has several distinct honors presented at the end of each season, one of which is the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award.

Dating back to 1962, there has only been one Green Bay Packers player to receive the award, wide receiver Robert Brooks.

Brooks, who was the Packers No.1 receiver, suffered a torn ACL and a torn patellar tendon against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 7 of the 1996 season.

He missed the rest of the year, but the Packers marched on to Super Bowl XXXI, where they defeated the New England Patriots 35-21.

In 1997, Brooks returned from the devastating injury and had one of his best statistical seasons in his eight-year career. He hauled in 60 catches for 1,010 yards and seven touchdowns, to earn the award.

Nearly 20 years later, it is likely that history will repeat itself and another No. 1 Packers wide receiver will be a recipient of the award, Jordy Nelson.

Dec 4, 2016; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson (87) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Houston Texans at Lambeau Field. Green Bay won 21-13. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

The Packers lost Nelson on the opening drive of their second preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers back in 2015. Nelson similarly to Brooks suffered a torn ACL and missed the entire ’15 season.

There were high expectations for the former Kansas State Wildcat because of his breakout 2014 season, which included 98 receptions, 1519 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Those numbers earned Nelson his first trip to the Pro Bowl, finishing in the top seven in each of those categories at the wide receiver position.

Aaron Rodgers and company struggled to find any type of rhythm without the standout deep threat. The Packers finished the year 10-6, but were eliminated in the NFC divisional playoff round against the Arizona Cardinals, 26-20.

Already in his 30s, many believed it would be difficult for Nelson to regain his dominance from before the injury.

On August 17, Nelson was removed from the physically unable to perform list and was eligible to return to practice. The Packers still had three preseason games remaining, but he did not play in any of them.

Nelson made his debut nearly four weeks later in the Packers season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he caught six passes for 32 yards and one touchdown.

Early on it was very evident that Nelson was timid, trying to avoid as much contact as possible and not nearly as sharp as before the injury. However, he quickly regained any lost chemistry he had with Rodgers and has started to look like his old self.

The ninth-year wide out once again is Rodgers’ No. 1 target and leads the team in receptions (69), yards (872) and touchdowns (10). His 10 touchdowns are tied for second in the NFL with Mike Evans.

“It’s fun,” Nelson said. “We just need to continue to win games and we’ll look at all of that later. I put in the work throughout the offseason to get back to this point. It’s fun to be back out there with the guys. Every time you get in the end zone, you’ve got to enjoy it.”

Compared to Brooks, Nelson already has more receptions and touchdowns with four games remaining on the schedule. He is on pace for 90 receptions, 1,110 yards and 13 touchdowns and it’s going to be tough not handing him the award if he finishes with numbers like that.