Punt returner-wide receiver TAVON AUSTIN of the St. Louis Rams was named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for games played the 14th week of the 2014 season (December 4, 7-8), the NFL announced today.
SPECIAL TEAMS: PR-WR TAVON AUSTIN, ST. LOUIS RAMS
- Austin returned a punt 78 yards for a touchdown and averaged 35.8 yards per return in the Rams’ 24-0 win at Washington. He finished with 143 punt-return yards, 46 rushing yards and 14 receiving yards.
- He had three punt returns of at least 25 yards (37, 28 and 78) and his 143 punt-return yards are the most by a player in a game this season. Austin’s 143 punt-return yards are the most by an NFC player in a game since he had 145 yards on November 10, 2013 against Indianapolis.
- Austin has two career punt-return touchdowns and nine total touchdowns (four receiving, three rushing, two punt returns) in his first two NFL seasons.
- He ranks second in the NFL with 332 punt-return yards and his 11.1 yards per return average ranks second among players with at least 25 punt returns.
- In his second season from West Virginia, this is Austin’s second career Player of the Week Award (Week 10, 2013).
- Austin is the first Ram to be named Player of the Week in each of his first two seasons with the club since MARSHALL FAULK (Offense, 1999 and 2000).
