Sam Darnold leads Comeback Player of the Year race amid eligibility controversy

Sam Darnold, the Minnesota Vikings quarterback, is currently the betting favorite for the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award, surpassing Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow. However, there is controversy surrounding his eligibility as the award is traditionally meant for players overcoming significant adversity like illness or injury, whereas Darnold's situation involved serving as a backup quarterback previously. Despite the debate, Darnold has had an outstanding season with a 68.1% completion rate and over 4,000 passing yards and 30 touchdowns, marking significant improvements in his career.