Green Bay Packers cornerback Rasul Douglas was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week for Week 12 of the 2021 season.
Douglas tallied an interception return for a touchdown and three other pass breakups during Green Bay’s 36-28 win over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday at Lambeau Field.
The four passes defensed by Douglas were a career-high and the most by a Packers player since Jaire Alexander had five in a 2018 game against the Rams. Douglas became just the sixth player this season to tally at least four passes defensed in a game this season, and he’s the only one with an interception returned for a touchdown.
Douglas joined Charles Woodson and Mike McKenzie as the only Packers players to record at least four passes defensed and an interception returned for a touchdown in a single game. Woodson accomplished the feat twice (2008, 2009).
The Packers signed Douglas off the Cardinals practice squad in October. He not only provided an award-winning effort in Week 12, but his interception of Kyler Murray in the end zone clinched a Week 8 win for the Packers in Arizona.
Over seven games with the Packers this season, Douglas has eight passes defensed and two interceptions.
Douglas is the first Packers player since Za’Darius Smith in Week 4 of the 2020 season to win NFC Defensive Player of the Week. The Packers have had at least one Defensive Player of the Week in each of the last three seasons (Douglas in 2021, Za’Darius Smith in 2020, Preston Smith in 2019). Linebacker De’Vondre Campbell was the NFC Defensive Player of the Month for October of 2021.
