NEW YORK – Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle, New Orleans Saints cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry and San Francisco 49ers kicker Eddy Piñeiro are the NFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played in Week 5 (October 2, 5-6).
OFFENSE: RB RICO DOWDLE, CAROLINA PANTHERS
- Dowdle totaled 234 scrimmage yards (206 rushing, 28 receiving) and a rushing touchdown in Carolina’s 27-24 comeback victory over Miami. It marks the most scrimmage and rushing yards by any player in a game this season.
- This is the first career Offensive Player of the Week Award for Dowdle, becoming the fourth Carolina running back to earn the honor in the past 10 years, joining Chuba Hubbard (Week 16, 2024), D’Onta Foreman (Week 16, 2022) and Jonathan Stewart (Week 14, 2017).
- Dowdle becomes the third former South Carolina running back to win Offensive Player of the Week, joining George Rogers (Week 16, 1985) and Duce Staley (Week 1, 2000).
DEFENSE: CB KOOL-AID MCKINSTRY, NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
- McKinstry recorded three passes defensed and two fourth-quarter interceptions in the Saints’ 26-14 comeback victory over the Giants. He was the only NFC player to record multiple interceptions in Week 5.
- This is the first career Defensive Player of the Week Award for McKinstry, becoming the fourth New Orleans defensive back to win the award in the past 10 seasons, joining Paulson Adebo (Week 9, 2023), Marshon Lattimore (Week 5, 2021) and P.J. Williams (Week 8, 2018).
- McKinstry becomes the tenth different former Alabama defensive back to earn the honor in the past 10 years (most recently Brian Branch in Week 6, 2024).
SPECIAL TEAMS: K EDDY PIÑEIRO, SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
- Piñeiro converted all four of his field goal attempts – from 20, 37, 41 and 59 yards – as well as both of his point-after attempts in San Francisco’s 26-23 overtime victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday Night Football. His 41-yarder put the 49ers ahead in overtime, while his 59-yarder was the longest in the NFL in Week 5.
- This is the fourth-career Special Teams Player of the Week for Piñeiro and first with San Francisco. He becomes the third 49ers kicker to earn the honor in the past 10 years, joining Robbie Gould (seven-time winner) and Jake Moody (Week 1, 2024).
- 2019: Week 2 (with Chicago)
- 2022: Week 14 (with Carolina)
- 2023: Week 15 (with Carolina)
- 2025: Week 5 (with San Francisco)
- Piñeiro surpasses Evan McPherson (three-time winner) for the most-ever Special Teams Player of the Week awards by a former Florida Gator kicker.
