By Lydia Jane Allison
NEW YORK — Nov. 6, 2024 — Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, Los Angeles Rams safety Kamren Kinchens and Arizona Cardinals punter Blake Gillikin are the NFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for Week 9 (October 31, November 3-4).
OFFENSE: RB SAQUON BARKLEY, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
- Barkley totaled 199 scrimmage yards (159 rushing, 40 receiving) and scored two touchdowns (one rushing, one receiving), helping Philadelphia defeat Jacksonville, 28-23. He is the second player in NFL history with at least 110 scrimmage yards in seven of his first eight games with a team, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson (with the Los Angeles Rams in 1983).
- This is the sixth-career Offensive Player of the Week Award for Barkley and third this season with Philadelphia, joining Michael Vick as the only Eagle to earn the honor three times in a season (2010):
- 2018: Week 11 (Giants)
- 2019: Week 16 (Giants)
- 2022: Week 1 (Giants)
- 2024: Weeks 1, 7, 9 (Eagles)
- With his six Offensive Player of the Week awards, Barkley surpassed Kerry Collins (five) for the most-ever by a former Penn State player.
- Kinchens recorded three tackles and two fourth-quarter interceptions in the Rams’ 26-20 overtime victory against the Seahawks, including a 103-yard interception-return for a touchdown, tied with Pete Barnum (Sept. 26, 1926) for the longest interception-return for a touchdown by a rookie in NFL history. It was also the longest go-ahead fourth-quarter touchdown by a rookie all-time, surpassing Jaylen Watson (99-yard interception return for a touchdown with Kansas City on Sept. 15, 2022).
- Kinchens joins Janoris Jenkins (Week 12, 2012) as the only Rams rookies to earn Defensive Player of the Week.
- Kinchens joins Phillip Buchanon (Week 5, 2002) and Tyrique Stevenson (Week 17, 2023) as the only former Miami Hurricane defensive backs to earn Defensive Player of the Week as a rookie.
SPECIAL TEAMS: P BLAKE GILLIKIN, ARIZONA CARDINALS
- Gillikin punted four times in Arizona’s 20-9 victory over Chicago, three of which landed inside the 20-yard line and two inside the 10. He was the only punter in the NFL this week with 75 percent of his punts landing inside the 20 (minimum three punts).
- This is the first-career Special Teams Player of the Week Award for Gillikin, as he becomes the third Cardinals punter to earn the honor, joining Jeff Feagles (Week 13, 1995) and Ben Graham (Week 15, 2009).
- Gillikin becomes the first former Penn State punter to win Special Teams Player of the Week.
COURTESY NFL COMMUNICATIONS
