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By Andrew Gould
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Several prominent NFL stars are looking to return strong from injuries in 2026, but Russell Wilson picked an unheralded former peer to pull off an upset and win Comeback Player of the Year.
Now working as a CBS Sports analyst, the retired quarterback made his surprise prediction for the annual award on his "Set, Hut!" show.
"Could Kirk Cousins win Comeback Player of the Year? I'm just saying it now," Wilson declared. "You heard it right here on Set, Hut. I think Kirk Cousins wins Comeback Player of the Year."
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A torn Achilles ended his Minnesota Vikings tenure in 2023, and the Atlanta Falcons benched the high-profile signing for Michael Penix Jr. before releasing Cousins last offseason. Cousins has made the most of his new opportunity with the Las Vegas Raiders, throwing three touchdowns in back-to-back wins.
"Kirk's gone through a lot of stuff in the past couple of years," Wilson said. "He's managed it well. I think Kirk Cousins has done a great job of managing all the noise around him saying he's done."
Wilson praised Cousins' perseverance and mindset to overcome adversity.
"To me, Kirk Cousins has responded in a great way, and that's what this game's about," Wilson said. "You got to keep going. You got to have that grit. I think Kirk's had that grit over his career. He never gave up on the moment. Even with him being in Atlanta, they draft the guy. He stays poised, he still helps out Penix. I think those are the things that go a long way and show the character of who you are, and I think Kirk's done a great job of that."
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However, Cousins still faces significant hurdles to winning Comeback Player of the Year.
First, the 38-year-old must keep fending off No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza for the starting job. Even if he does, Patrick Mahomes is a convincing betting favorite after looking sharp in his first two games back from a torn ACL.
There's also the matter of whether Cousins is even eligible. Associated Press writer Rob Maaddi, who oversees NFL award voting, explained in 2024 that Comeback Player of the Year is meant "to honor a player who has demonstrated resilience in the face of adversity by overcoming illness, physical injury or other circumstances that led him to miss playing time the previous season." Losing playing time to a younger teammate may not meet that standard.
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