Following a very impressive Week 6 performance in which he returned the opening kickoff 103 yards for a score against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Rams‘ WR/KR Pharoh Cooper has been named the NFC’s Special Teams Player of the Week.
Cooper joins Trumaine Johnson, Todd Gurley, and Greg Zuerlein as Rams’ 2017 award winners. Johnson forced two turnovers in Week 1 — one of which was a pick six on Colts‘ QB Scott Tolzien on the very first pass play of the game. Gurley won Offensive Player of the Week honors following a Week 4 performance in which he racked up 215 total yards of offense (121 rushing, 94 receiving). Rams’ kicker Greg Zuerlein had an equally impressive Week 4 performance, nailing all seven field goal attempts and both extra points on his way to a Special Teams Player of the Week award.
Fans who may have been concerned about the loss of Benny Cunningham – the team’s primary kick returner from 2013-2016 – can set their minds at ease.
Cooper leads the NFL in kick return yards in 2017, with 476. It’s not particularly close for second place (Quan Bray – 319 yards). He also leads the league in return average (31.73 yards). Cooper, and Ravens‘ Bobby Rainey, are the only two players to have returned a kickoff for a score this year.
The 103 yard play marks the first time a Rams’ player has returned a kickoff for a score since 2005.