NEW YORK – Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, Los Angeles Rams cornerback Cobie Durant and Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates are the NFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for Week 7 (October 17, 20-21).
OFFENSE: RB SAQUON BARKLEY, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
- Barkley recorded 187 scrimmage yards (176 rushing, 11 receiving) and a rushing touchdown in Philadelphia’s 28-3 Week 7 win at the New York Giants. He has 761 scrimmage yards this season, the most by a player in his first six games with a team since Barkley’s first six games with the Giants as a rookie in 2018 (811 scrimmage yards).
- This is the fifth-career Player of the Week award for Barkley and second with Philadelphia:
- 2018: Week 11 (Giants)
- 2019: Week 16 (Giants)
- 2022: Week 1 (Giants)
- 2024: Weeks 1, 7 (Eagles)
- Barkley’s five Offensive Player of the Week awards are tied with Kerry Collins for the most by a former Penn State player.
DEFENSE: CB COBIE DURANT, LOS ANGELES RAMS
- Durant recorded an interception, sack and forced fumble in the Rams’ 20-15 Week 7 win against the Raiders. Durant became the first defensive back to record an interception, sack and forced fumble in a game this season.
- This is Durant’s first-career Player of the Week award, becoming the third Rams defensive back to win Defensive Player of the Week in the past 10 seasons (2015-24), joining Trumaine Johnson (Week 1, 2017) and Taylor Rapp (Week 6, 2021).
- Durant becomes the second player from South Carolina State to win a Player of the Week award since 2000, joining Darius Leonard (four-time winner).
SPECIAL TEAMS: K JAKE BATES, DETROIT LIONS
- Bates converted on all four of his point after attempts and kicked the game-winning 44-yard field goal with 15 seconds remaining to help Detroit overcome a 10-point deficit in its 31-29 Week 7 win at Minnesota.
- This is the first-career Special Teams Player of the Week Award for Bates, becoming the fifth Lions kicker ever to earn the honor, joining Jason Hanson (12-time winner), Matt Prater (seven), Riley Patterson and Michael Badgley.
- Bates becomes the first former Arkansas kicker to win a Special Teams Player of the Week award.
