Cardinals’ Jordan Hicks takes home NFC Defensive Player of the Week

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It could have been a number of Arizona Cardinals taking home NFC Defensive Player of the Week after their team roughed up the Chicago Bears in Week 13.

In the end, it was Arizona’s leading tackler who also posted a multi-sack effort. Linebacker Jordan Hicks earned his first career NFC Defensive Player of the Week nod Wednesday for a 13-tackle, two-sack, two-tackle-for-loss effort in a 33-22 road win Sunday.

He is the third Cardinals player in team history to post at least 10 tackles, at least two sacks and at least two tackles for loss in a single game, joining Markus Golden in 2016 and Calais Campbell in 2011 and 2012.

Hicks stood out amongst a number of strong defensive performances in Chicago: Cornerback Byron Murphy added six tackles, two passes defensed and an interception; safety Jalen Thompson had 10 tackles and a pick; safety Budda Baker and defensive end Zach Allen each recorded interceptions with returns of 77 and 25 yards, respectively.

Instead, it was Hicks. For the season, he leads the Cardinals with 95 tackles and is the only NFL player with 90 or more tackles and five or more sacks so far. The linebacker’s total of five sacks is already a career best.

Players of the Week – Week 13

AFC
Offense: QB Justin Herbert, LAC
Defense: LB T.J. Watt, PIT
ST: P Michael Palardy, MIA

NFC
Offense: QB Jared Goff, DET
Defense: LB Jordan Hicks, AZ
ST: RB Travis Homer, SEA

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 8, 2021

Hicks is the fourth Arizona player to win NFC Defensive Player of the Week this season, which ties a franchise record posted in 1998 and 2007.

Six Cardinals total have taken home a weekly award in 2021. Hicks joins Chandler Jones (Week 11 at Seattle, Week 1 at Tennessee), Matt Prater (Week 6 at Cleveland), Byron Murphy (Week 3 at Jacksonville) and Kyler Murray (Week 2 vs. Minnesota) as NFC Player of the Week honorees as the team has gone 10-2 so far.

The Cardinals host the Los Angeles Rams at 6:15 p.m. on Monday Night Football. Tune to 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station.

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