Former Wildcat Nelson Named NFL Comeback Player of the Year
Feb 06, 2017 | Football
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Former Kansas State wide receiver Jordy Nelson was named the NFL Comeback Player of the Year by the Associated Press on Saturday night during the National Football League Honors ceremony.
Nelson, who missed the entire 2015 season due to a torn ACL, totaled 97 receptions for 1,257 yards and a league-high 14 touchdowns in 2016, helping Green Bay win the NFC North title. Nelson played a total of 1,014 of a possible 1,086 snaps during the Packers’ 16 regular-season contests.
“This is an extremely great honor to be up here in front of all these great players, present and former guys,” said Nelson during his acceptance speech. “I want to thank our athletic trainers with the Packers, Nate (Weir) and (Bryan) Flea (Engel). The last two years they’ve done a lot of work to get me on the field and keep me on the field.
“To be able to be out there again this year and play in all 16 (regular-season) games was an honor and you realize how much you miss it when you miss a whole season. My wife, my two boys who are back home, thanks for being patient. I probably spent about three or four months on crutches. That’s not great when you have a 7-year-old, but they’ll understand.”
Nelson has hauled in 497 catches for 7,366 yards and 63 touchdowns during his nine-year professional career. He ranks third in Green Bay history in touchdowns, fourth in catches and fifth in yards.
A product of Riley, Kansas, Nelson left K-State after tallying 206 career receptions for 2,822 yards and 20 touchdowns. His 122 catches for 1,606 yards in 2007 still rank as the best marks in school history. He also has the top two single-catch catch performances in K-State history as he hauled in 15 receptions against both Missouri State and Fresno State in 2007.
