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Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Calais Campbell has been named AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his franchise-record 4.0-sack performance against the Houston Texans.
Making his Jaguars debut after being acquired during 2017 free agency, Campbell registered 3.5 sacks in the first half alone against the Houston Texans. Campbell’s 4.0 sacks are a single-game franchise record for the Jaguars and the third-most on kickoff weekend in NFL history, trailing only Derrick Thomas’ 6.0 sacks in 1998 and William Gay’s 5.5 sacks in 1983.
Campbell, who leads the NFL in sacks entering Week 2 against the Tennessee Titans, has now registered 60.5 career sacks in 139 games (121 starts).
Campbell is the 11th player in Jaguars history to win AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors and the first Jaguars defensive lineman to win the award since former defensive end Paul Spicer won the award in Week 6 of the 2007 NFL season after posting six tackles, 1.0 sack, and a forced fumble, also against the Texans.
The last Jaguars player to win AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors was cornerback Jalen Ramsey who intercepted a pass for a touchdown and totaled four passes defensed and four tackles against the Titans in Week 16 of the 2016 season.
Entering Week 2 vs. Tennessee, the Jaguars currently lead the NFL in total defense after holding the Texans to 203 total net yards, including 93 net rush yards and 110 net passing yards. The Jaguars defense also leads the league in yards allowed per play (2.94), net passing yards allowed (110), and sacks per pass play (27.8%).
The Jaguars also defense recorded a franchise single-game record 10 sacks against the Texans in Week 1, and saw six different players on the defensive line register at least a half-sack:
Calais Campbell – 4.0
Yannick Ngakoue – 2.0
Lerentee McCray – 1.5
Malik Jackson – 1.0
Dante Fowler Jr. – 1.0
Abry Jones – 0.5.
The Jaguars defense registered four takeaways against the Texans on Sunday, and the team finished the game with a +4 turnover margin, tied for the best differential in the NFL (Baltimore is also +4) in Week 1. The Jaguars scored 16 points from the four takeaways, including Fowler’s 56-yard fumble return in the second quarter.