Tag: NFC Defensive Player of the Week

Packers OLB Za’Darius Smith named NFC Defensive Player of Week

For the first time since joining the Packers, Za’Darius Smith is the NFC Defensive Player of the Week.

Green Bay Packers outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith has been named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week for Week 4 of the 2020 season.

Smith tallied eight tackles, three sacks, four tackles for losses and five quarterback hits during the Packers’ 30-16 win over Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons on Monday night.

According to Pro Football Focus, Smith had seven total pressures and five stops, which is considered a tackle constituting a failure for the offense.

After four games, Smith now ranks tied for first in the NFL in sacks with five.

The honor is Smith’s first since joining the Packers. While with the Baltimore Ravens, Smith was the AFC Defensive Player of the Week in Week 6 of 2018.

Outside linebacker Preston Smith was the last Packers’ player to win NFC Defensive Player of the Week (Week 3, 2019).

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Ryan Kerrigan named NFC Defensive Player of the Week for first time in career

Kerrigan’s two sacks and fumble recovery in 20 snaps against Philly helped him secure his first ever NFC Defensive Player of the Week.

Was there any other choice but to name Washington’s Ryan Kerrigan the NFC Defensive Player of the Week after the performance that he put on in a 27-17 win over the Philadelphia Eagles?

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Kerrigan played only 20 snaps on the day, but came up with two sacks and one fumble recovery. He also broke Washington’s franchise record for most sacks all-time, passing Dexter Manley with 92 in his career. Kerrigan led the team in sacks on the day, holding two of the eight total tallied up by the defensive line, and was a major part of why Eagles QB Carson Wentz was rendered ineffective down the stretch.

This is the first time that Kerrigan has been named NFC Defensive Player of the Week in his career.

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Cameron Jordan’s four-sack Thanksgiving earns NFC Defensive Player of the Week

New Orleans Saints DE Cameron Jordan’s four-sack game against the Atlanta Falcons on Thanksgiving earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week.

New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan had one of the biggest games of his career on Thanksgiving against the Atlanta Falcons, and that prime-time performance earned him recognition as the NFC Defensive Player of the Week. It’s just the second time he’s won this award in his NFL career, having previously done so in Week 6 of the 2017 season (when he sacked Detroit Lions passer Matthew Stafford twice, and intercepted his own deflected pass for a touchdown catch).

Jordan sacked Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan four times on the night (a personal-best single-game mark) and closed out the game with his fourth sack on Atlanta’s final play, leading the Saints to a 26-18 victory and clinching New Orleans’ third consecutive NFC South title.

The Saints’ defensive captain now ranks second in team history for sacks (85), and second in the NFL (13.5), with four games left to play. His 18 sacks of Ryan are the most of any other player the Falcons quarterback has faced.

But don’t expect Jordan to celebrate this accomplishment for too long. He’s dialed in on his next opponent (the 10-2 San Francisco 49ers) and won’t divulge whether he shares the opinion of his teammates, that 20 sacks is within reach. Jordan told Mike Triplett of ESPN that, “I’ve never said anything other than I want a Super Bowl. I don’t care about personal accolades. I’m gunning for everything and plus some. As long as my D-line is playing good and my defense is playing better, I couldn’t care less about myself.”

That said, Jordan isn’t ruling out the possibility of becoming a 20-sack man. “If it happens, then more the merrier this offseason,” he added.

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Hernia issue not expected to keep Jadeveon Clowney out in Week 13

Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll doesn’t expect Jadeveon Clowney, who is being treated for a sports hernia, to miss Monday night’s game.

The Seattle Seahawks managed another excellent defensive performance on Sunday, despite being without star defensive end Jadeveon Clowney.

Clowney missed the contest with what was listed as a hip injury. However, he visited with doctor William Meyers before the game, who typically treats sports hernia injuries, including performing surgery recently on both Doug Baldwin and Jarran Reed.

Coach Pete Carroll confirmed that, while Clowney was treated for a sports hernia, he did not have surgery (which typically comes with a six week recovery time) and that he is hoping to play on Monday.

“That’s what he was treated for,” Carroll said. “We’ll see how the treatment took hold. He feels pretty good today. I haven’t talked to him directly but he’s passed along that he’s looking forward to playing this week.”

Clowney was named the NFC defensive player of the week after his dominant performance against San Francisco in Week 10, but Seattle’s defensive line stepped up in his absence on Sunday against the Eagles, forcing three fumbles and recording three sacks.

If the rest of the unit can play that well with Clowney, this team should wreak havoc on Kirk Cousins and the Vikings on Monday Night Football, which is set to kick off at 5:15 p.m. on December 2nd.

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Jadeveon Clowney had treatment on hip, questionable for Week 12

Seattle Seahawks star defensive end Jadeveon Clowney is questionable with a hip injury, and had off-campus treatment on Friday afternoon.

The Seattle Seahawks may be without their star defensive end, Jadeveon Clowney, on Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Clowney is officially listed as questionable with a hip injury, and coach Pete Carroll revealed the star pass rusher was not at Seattle’s practice on Friday while he got treatment on his hip at another location.

“He had a little off-campus treatment today,” Carroll said on Friday. “So, we’ll see how he is on game day.”

Clowney had a monstrous game against the 49ers in Week 10, earning NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors. Not having him against an Eagles team that is missing starting tackle Lane Johnson would be a big blow for this Seattle defense.

Carroll said Clowney will meet up with the team before the game on Sunday, and they’ll work him out on the field before determining if he will be able to play.

If Clowney cannot go, the Seahawks will rely heavily on Quinton Jefferson and Rasheem Green to anchor the pass rush, with Ziggy Ansah, Shaquem Griffin and potentially rookie L.J. Collier seeing an increase in snap counts as well.

Look for an update on Clowney’s status roughly 90 minutes before Seattle takes on Philadelphia on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. PT.

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Jadeveon Clowney not worried about potential contract extension

The Seattle Seahawks have yet to discuss a contract extension with star DE Jadeveon Clowney, but he’s only focused on the next game.

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Seattle Seahawks defensive end Jadeveon Clowney had without a doubt his best game of the season in Week 10 against the San Francisco 49ers, earning NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors.

His breakout game, and Seattle’s relative lack of pass rush otherwise, has lead to many speculations about his future with the squad.

Clowney is a free agent after the season, and a provision in his trade to Seattle means the team cannot franchise tag him after the year.

That means Seattle has from now until March 18 to sign Clowney to an extension, else he becomes a free agent capable of signing with any team.

However – Clowney isn’t letting his future distract him from the present.

“I’m not really worried,” Clowney told Seattle media members on Wednesday. “Right now, I’m just focusing on trying to get ready for the Eagles. It’s a lot of football left. I’m really focusing on this season. I don’t care about looking down the road. It’s just one game at a time because we can do something special here.”

Clowney came to Seattle just before the start of the season in a trade with the Texans, who acquired Barkevious Mingo, Jacob Martin and a 2020 third round pick in exchange for the 2014 first overall pick.

He’s racking up numbers in Seattle, posting 25 combined tackles, three passes defended, three forced fumbles, and two touchdowns.

Clowney admitted he has spent time in previous seasons thinking about his financial future – part of the reason he’s committed to not doing so in Seattle.

“I thought about that last year, what was going to happen with the contract,” Clowney said. “I thought about it the year before I was on my last year. I’m done thinking about that. Just take it one game at a time. One season. One play. You never know what’s going to happen. You can be one play away from the end and it all could blow up in your face. Just continue to have fun. Continue to play at a high level. Enjoy this game because it can be taken away from you at any minute. Not worried about what the future holds right now.”

Clowney and the rest of the Seahawks will keep their attention on the Eagles, who they will play in Philadelphia on Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m. PT.

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