Who is the Comeback Player to watch for the Atlanta Falcons?
Pro Football Network's Nick Faria recognized a comeback player of the year for all 32 NFL teams, from the New York Jets' reliance on Aaron Rodgers to Stefon Diggs showing out for the Houston Texans. For the Atlanta Falcons, there were plenty of options to choose from, but Faria decided to go straight to the headliner: quarterback Kirk Cousins and his recovering right Achilles tendon.
Lost for the season early on in Minnesota last year, Cousins enters his first season in Atlanta with plenty to prove. Additionally, plenty of people are interested in the reason for the organization drafting a quarterback with the eighth overall pick.
While the shout-out to picking Michael Penix, Jr. in the top ten feels unnecessary, Cousins is certainly a prime comeback candidate. However, there were plenty of players that Faria could have chosen, especially after that offensive disaster last season. So, along with Cousins and his Achilles, we list a few more candidates for Atlanta's comeback player of 2024.
Kyle Pitts
We've been waiting since the end of his rookie year to see tight end Kyle Pitts live up to that fourth-overall selection. Yes, he went for 1,000 yards with Matt Ryan at quarterback, but with down quarterback play and a lack of anyone else that could stretch the field vertically, Pitts' production dipped dramatically. With Cousins in tow, it's time for Pitts to solidify his spot atop the elite tight ends in the NFL.
Troy Andersen
With the rise of undrafted free agent Nate Landman, everyone forgot the athletic freak he had to replace: Troy Andersen. The 2022 second-rounder had to leave in week three after tearing his pectoral, ending his sophomore campaign unceremoniously. Andersen has a chance to remind fans why he was drafted with a top-60 pick, especially with mobile quarterbacks like Washington Commanders rookie Jayden Daniels and Kansas City Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes on the schedule.
Richie Grant
Whether he's starting at the safety spot opposite Jessie Bates or not, this season feels like Richie Grant's last chance. Grant showed flashes of the ability near the line of scrimmage that made him such a coveted prospect. Grant also had significant lapses in coverage, resulting in multiple explosive plays for opposing offenses.
With guys like head coach Raheem Morris and defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake, who both have defensive back backgrounds, joining Assistant head coach/defense Jerry Gray, if Grant doesn't figure it out in this environment, then he's not going to figure it out, at least not in Atlanta.