Outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith had a huge afternoon in the Minnesota Vikings’ 34-26 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium, and that performance was recognized on Wednesday.
Smith was named the NFC’s Defensive Player of the Week for what he did against the Cardinals to help key Minnesota’s win.
#55 was a thorn in Arizona’s side all afternoon, as he registered three sacks of Kyler Murray along with four additional pressures and three quarterback hits. This is the third time in his career that he’s won a Defensive Player of the Week Award, and he’s the first member of the Vikings to be honored with the award since Danielle Hunter back in 2019.