Thomas Morstead named NFC Special Teams Player of Week 1
New Orleans Saints punter Thomas Morstead earned recognition as the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for Week 1, his fifth career honor and the most of any player in Saints history. Morstead was called on to punt six times against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and he dropped five of them inside the Tampa Bay 20-yard line; Tom Brady’s Buccaneers offense never took over beyond their own 15-yard line on those five possessions.
The other NFC Players of the Week are Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson and Washington Football Team pass rusher Ryan Kerrigan. In the AFC, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was joined by Los Angeles Chargers defensive back Casey Hayward and Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson, who booted a career-best 54-yard field goal to help lift his team to a Week 1 win.
Last season, Morstead was twice named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week (in Weeks 3 and 6), as well as NFC Special Teams Player of the Month for September. For his part, Thomas is more focused on making sure attention is put on the “team” aspect of these award. He took time to praise his teammates and stress how important it is for each of them to work together:
This should be named NFC special team of the week. Blocked kick, great punt returns set up by great blocks, elite gunner play, fumble recovery, 100% Kicks & good snaps.
You’re only a success at the moment you perform a successful act
Phil Jackson#BeatTheRaiders#WHODAT#Saints pic.twitter.com/S30Xe6DKkE— Thomas Morstead (@thomasmorstead) September 16, 2020
