Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jordan Davis made franchise history this week, serving as the latest example of why this has been a career year for No. 90.
Davis, who batted down three passes in the Eagles’ 16-9 win over the Detroit Lions on Sunday night, was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week.
Davis became the first player in Eagles history to win both Defensive Player of the Week and Special Teams Player of the Week in the same season. Davis received the latter after blocking a field goal and returning it for a touchdown against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 3.
Davis, a 2022 first-round pick out of Georgia, is enjoying his best season yet with the Eagles. The 25-year-old has recorded six batted passes and three sacks in 10 games. Out of 105 defensive tackles with at least 200 snaps, Davis’ PFF defensive grade ranks 14th.
Davis’ play this season comes after a sluggish start to his career. But Davis got himself into better shape this offseason, losing 26 pounds, and it’s showing each and every week.
“Proud of him because I think what a great example of the world that we live in today, (people want) instant gratification,” head coach Nick Sirianni said. “He had to go through some ups and downs. … And he’s just continued to put his head down and work.
“He’s got himself in the best shape of his life. I think he’s seeing that, and it’s paying off. Just happy for him because of all the work that he’s put into to get that acknowledgement that he got from the NFL. And he’s been playing really good football.”
Davis was asked on Wednesday what earning NFC Defensive Player of the Week meant to him. He emphasized that “individual accolades come and go.” Davis wanted to focus more on his teammates and how his success is helping the team.
“At the end of the day, it wouldn’t mean as much without those guys that I play with. Not even just what we do on the field. It’s the juice and the energy and the time that we spend together,” Davis said. “If everyone was moping around, it wouldn’t be fun for me. Those guys make it fun for me. I enjoy playing for this team. I enjoy playing with these guys. I enjoy playing this game.”
“I really want to make sure the real recognition goes to the team,” Davis added. “Because I wouldn’t be at my greatest, I wouldn’t have my success, I wouldn’t be at my peak without the team. Biggest reason why I wanted to change my body and change the way that I play was because of the team. I wanted to be the best player I could be for the team.”
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