Arvell Reese’s breakout keeps getting louder.
The New York Giants rookie linebacker has been named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week after a wrecking-ball performance against the Philadelphia Eagles. Reese piled up 3.0 sacks, 12 total tackles with 10 solo stops, three tackles for loss, three quarterback hits and a forced fumble in the game.
That stat line put him in rare company. He became the first rookie since 1994, when individual tackles were first tracked, to record at least 3.0 sacks and 10 tackles in a game. He’s also just the fourth player overall to post those numbers.
Even with the kind of afternoon that usually turns heads everywhere, Reese’s work didn’t exactly light up Pro Football Focus. Still, the rookie is quickly carving out a reputation as one of the NFL’s most dangerous defensive playmakers. Defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson has leaned into that, building a scheme that now runs heavily through Reese and Abdul Carter and finding creative ways to send them after opposing offenses.
“He’s so coachable,” Giants’ Head Coach John Harbaugh said. “We’re bringing him from a lot of different places, and a lot of times he’s picking, or he’s setting the pick, or he’s spying.
He does everything. He never gets into that world like, ‘I want to do this or that.’
Or ‘I want to rush the passer.’ Or ‘I want to cover man to man.’
He doesn’t worry about it. He just says, ‘You tell me what to do.
What does the defense call for? What’s my job?’
He’s going to be doing it 100 miles an hour every time, and it’s just very, very cool and refreshing to see that, especially in such a young guy.”
The Giants have been collecting hardware all season, despite the questions that surrounded the roster before kickoff. Safety Jevon Holland was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Month for September, Malik Nabers won NFC Offensive Player of the Month for October, and Deonte Banks earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors in Week 4 after his game-winning interception against the Cardinals.
Reese had already been recognized once before, taking home Pepsi Defensive Rookie Of The Week after his takeover against the Arizona Cardinals. He’s in the running for that award again this week.
In Other News...
Browns Defense Suddenly Has A Problem Cleveland Can't Ignore
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Defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg has stressed the need to address the issues directly, with the Browns trying to stay disciplined and physical against the run. The bigger question now is whether that message turns into a quick correction, because the early-season edge this unit carried has been harder to find lately, and the margin for error is shrinking fast. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Could Finally Punish A Texans Weakness Fans Need To See
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For Cleveland, that creates a clear opening in a game where the Browns are again entering as underdogs. If Houstons defensive back end continues to show cracks, it could give Cleveland a chance to lean into a weakness fans have been waiting to see exploited. The bigger question is whether the Browns can take advantage before the Texans defense settles in and changes the tone of the game. [Read more 🡒]
Deshaun Watson Faces A Browns Moment That Feels Bigger Than One Game
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The backdrop makes this more than just another midseason matchup. Watson is in the final year of his contract, the Browns need a win to improve their record, and the Texans have their own push to get closer to .500. For all the familiar faces and old storyline threads in this game, the larger question is what it means when Watson gets back on the field in a moment that feels bigger than one Sunday. [Read more 🡒]