NEW YORK – Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy, Los Angeles Rams linebacker Nate Landman and Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Kameron Johnson are the NFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played on Kickoff Weekend (September 4-5, 7-8).
OFFENSE: QB, J.J. MCCARTHY, MINNESOTA VIKINGS
- McCarthy recorded three touchdowns (two passing, one rushing) as Minnesota overcame an 11-point fourth quarter deficit to defeat Chicago, 27-24. McCarthy became the first starting quarterback to overcome a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter of their NFL debut and win in regulation since Pro Football Hall of Famer Steve Young (Week 12, 1985). He is the first player with at least two touchdown passes and a rushing touchdown in his NFL debut since Cam Newton (Week 1, 2011).
- He becomes the third Vikings quarterback to earn the honor in Week 1, joining Daunte Culpepper (2004) and Sam Bradford (2017).
- McCarthy joins Tom Brady as the only former Michigan quarterbacks to win Player of the Week in the past 15 seasons (2011-25).
DEFENSE: LB NATE LANDMAN, LOS ANGELES RAMS
- Landman recorded 10 tackles and a forced fumble in the Rams 14-9 victory over the Texans. His forced fumble came in the fourth quarter with 1:51 remaining as Houston entered the red zone.
- This is the first-career Defensive Player of the Week Award for Landman. He becomes the fourth Ram to win Defensive Player of the Week in Week 1, joining Robert Quinn (2013), Aaron Donald (2015) and Trumaine Johnson (2017)
- Landman becomes the first former Colorado player to win Defensive Player of the Week since Chad Brown (Week 17, 2003).
SPECIAL TEAMS: WR KAMERON JOHNSON, TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
- Johnson had a 54-yard punt return in the third quarter of Tampa Bay’s 23-20 victory at Atlanta. It was the longest punt return in the NFL in Week 1. Johnson also played 12 total special teams snaps as both a returner and a gunner.
- This is Johnson’s first Player of the Week Award. He joins Bradley Pinion (2021) as the only Buccaneers players to win Special Teams Player of the Week in Week 1.
- Johnson becomes the first player from Barton College to win a Player of the Week Award.
