Robinson, Smith, Carter named NFC Players of the Week

Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson, Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith and Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter are the NFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played in Week 17, the league announced Wednesday.

OFFENSE:

• Robinson recorded a career-high 195 rushing yards, including a career-long 93-yard rushing touchdown, and added 34 receiving yards and a touchdown reception in Atlanta’s 27-24 win against the Los Angeles Rams. He led the NFL with 229 scrimmage yards in Week 17 and had the longest rushing touchdown since Ronald Jones in Week 10 of the 2020 season (98 yards).

• Robinson has 5,605 scrimmage yards since entering the NFL in 2023, surpassing Christian McCaffrey (5,443 scrimmage yards with Carolina) for the most scrimmage yards by a player under the age of 24 in NFL history. He is the second player this season (Jahmyr Gibbs, Week 12) to record at least 200 scrimmage yards, a rushing touchdown and a receiving touchdown in a single game.

• This is Robinson’s second-career Player of the Week award (Week 6, 2025) and he joins Jamal Anderson (three-time winner), Gerald Riggs (three) and Michael Turner (three) as the only Falcons running backs to win multiple Offensive Player of the Week awards.

• Robinson is the fourth former Texas running back to earn multiple Offensive Player of the Week awards, joining Priest Holmes (five-time winner), Ricky Williams (four) and Jamaal Charles (three).

DEFENSE:

• Smith recorded three tackles, tied a career-high with three passes defensed, had two tackles for loss, a sack and an interception in Minnesota’s 23-10 win against Detroit. He became one of four players since 2000 to record at least three tackles, three passes defensed, two tackles for loss, a sack and an interception in a game.

• This is Smith’s third-career Defensive Player of the Week award and he becomes the second Vikings player to win Defensive Player of the Week award this season, joining Isaiah Rodgers (Week 3). He joins Pro Football Hall of Famers Chris Doleman (five-time winner) and John Randle (five) as well as Mike Merriweather (three) as the only Vikings players to win at least three Defensive Player of the Week awards.

  • 2017: Week 16

  • 2018: Week 1

  • 2025: Week 17

• Smith tied Pro Football Hall of Famer Bryant Young (three-time winner) for the most Defensive Player of the Week awards by a former Notre Dame player.

SPECIAL TEAMS:

• Carter blocked a Buffalo extra point attempt with 5:15 remaining in the fourth quarter in Philadelphia’s 13-12 win at Buffalo. Carter was one of three players in the NFL with a blocked kick in Week 17.

• This is Carter’s first Player of the Week award and he becomes the fourth Eagles player to earn Player of the Week honors this season, joining Jordan Davis (Weeks 3 and 11), Quinyon Mitchell (Week 4) and Cooper DeJean (Week 16). He becomes the third Eagles defensive lineman to earn Special Team Player of the Week honors, joining Jordan Davis (Week 3, 2025) and Jevon Kearse (Week 12, 2004).

• Carter became the third former Georgia defensive lineman to win a Special Teams Player of the Week award, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer Richard Seymour (two-time winner) and Jordan Davis (Week 3, 2025).