Baltimore Ravens tight end Dennis Pitta was the choice for AFC North comeback player of the year as voted on by the four reporters covering the division for ESPN.com.

Jamison Hensley, Baltimore Ravens reporter: Terrelle Pryor, Andy Dalton and Maurkice Pouncey all bounced back from injuries. But no one’s comeback journey compares to Pitta. He fractured his right hip in 2013 and 2014. Pitta didn’t even play in 2015, causing most to believe his career was over. There were doctors, friends and family members who discouraged Pitta from returning to football. So, to play his first full season since 2012 was an accomplishment by itself. What made Pitta’s comeback more amazing: He led all NFL tight ends with a career-best 86 catches. Only Antonio Brown had more receptions than Pitta among AFC North players.

Dennis Pitta had a career-best 86 receptions for the Ravens this year, leading all NFL tight ends. Mitchell Layton/Getty Images

Jeremy Fowler, Pittsburgh Steelers reporter: Pitta was productive coming off a major injury, but Le’Veon Bell faced the darkest of clouds as he made his Week 4 debut. He was coming off a second straight NFL suspension for substance abuse violations, and he was asked to carry a big workload despite tearing two knee ligaments 10 months earlier. Bell smashed all expectations, averaging 157.0 total yards per game and making a compelling case as the game’s best all-around playmaker.

Pat McManamon, Cleveland Browns reporter: Pitta's career was a thread's distance from being over. He hadn't played a full season since 2012. He broke his right hip in consecutive seasons, 2013 and 2014. He did not play a down last season. Yet he led NFL tight ends with 86 receptions and got in the end zone twice. His story is a testament to perseverance and dedication.

Katherine Terrell, Cincinnati Bengals: It looked like Pitta’s career was over after he fractured and dislocated his hip in 2013 and 2014. After missing the entire 2015 season, Pitta returned to play in every game this season. His 729 yards were a career high. It was quite a feat for a player who was expected to hang up his cleats.