Indianapolis Colts 2x NFL All-Pro linebacker Darius Leonard has been awarded AFC Defensive Player of the Week for Week 17 following his standout performance against the Jacksonville Jaguars this past Sunday—in what was a must-win game:
@dsleon45 is the AFC Defensive Player of the Week. pic.twitter.com/ZPBjzeDa0T
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) January 6, 2021
Leonard had 10 tackles (8 solo), a sack, a forced fumble, and 2 passes defensed during the 2020 season finale. PFF also credited him with 5 stops (which are tackles that constitute a ‘failure’ for the offense).
He was targeted 7 times in pass coverage for 5 receptions for 38 receiving yards (7.6 ypr. avg.) and a passer rating of 71.4 (also via PFF).
Per PFF, ‘The Maniac’ received a +89.9 overall grade from Sunday’s playoff-clinching win and was subsequently named to their ‘NFL Week 17: Team of the Week’.
He absolutely crushed Jaguars starting quarterback Mike Glennon in the passing pocket for a strip-sack, which was a decisive defensive play.
Leonard joins Colts teammates Xavier Rhodes (Week 3), Kenny Moore (Week 14), and DeForest Buckner (Week 15) for having won AFC Defensive Player of the Week during the 2020 regular season. Both E.J. Speed (Week 10) and Rodrigo Blankenship (Week 11) earned AFC Special Teams Player of the Week earlier this season as well.
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