Linval Joseph Named NFC Defensive Player of the Week

In what should come as no surprise to anyone that watched last Sunday's contest between the Minnesota Vikings and the St. Louis Rams, Vikings' defensive tackle Linval Joseph has been named the NFC's Defensive Player of the Week for Week 9.

Joseph absolutely dominated everything in his path on Sunday afternoon. From his nose tackle position, he collected ten tackles (seven of which were solo tackles), three tackles for loss, two quarterback pressures, and he shared a quarterback sack with safety Andrew Sendejo. He played a central role in limiting star running back Todd Gurley to just 89 yards after the rookie had rushed for at least 125 in each of his first four NFL games.

In his sixth year in the league out of East Carolina University, Joseph was a second round pick (#46 overall) of the New York Giants in 2010. He spent his first four years in the NFL with the Giants before signing with Minnesota as a free agent prior to the 2014 season.

Joseph is the fourth Vikings' defensive tackle to collect a Defensive Player of the Week Award. Keith Millard was the first, collecting one of the weekly awards in 1989. John Randle won the award on five separate occasions, and Kevin Williams picked one up in 2004.

Congratulations to Linval Joseph on collecting the Week 9 Defensive Player of the Week Award in the NFC, and for putting together what certainly looks like, at the very least, a Pro Bowl-caliber season thus far.