It’s A Major Award: Eddie Jackson Named NFC Defensive Player of the Week
The Bears’ most important offensive player in their Week 7 win over the Panthers was named the NFC’s Defensive Player of the Week.
Rookie safety Eddie Jackson earned his first major NFL award after scoring a pair of lengthy touchdowns in the Bears’ 17-3 win against the Panthers on Sunday. The first was a 75-yard scoop-and-score on the game’s first possession. And then Jackson later added a 76-yard interception return touchdown. On a day where the Bears offense gained just 153 yards of total offense, Jackson picked up 151 yards worth of touchdown returns.
The win helped launch the Bears ahead of the Green Bay Packers in the latest NFL.com power rankings.
In a draft that was loaded with defensive backs, the Bears moved up to select Jackson in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft. The hope there was the ballhawking skills and big-play ability he displayed at Alabama while healthy would translate into the pros. So far, so good as Jackson ranks as the 20th best safety by Pro Football Focus’ grading standards.
