Jack Fox is undeniably one of the best punters in the NFL. Lions head coach Dan Campbell summed up his performance in the team's 20-13 win in Week 3 over the Arizona Cardinals concisely and perfectly (h/t to MLive).
“I don’t know how you play any better than Fox did as a punter.”
Four of Fox's five punts against the Cardinals were downed inside the 20-yard line. The one touchback was a 68-yard punt, and an Arizona penalty pinned them at their own 10-yard line anyway. Three of those punts downed inside the 20 were in the fourth quarter, aiding the Lions' defense to squash any hope the Cardinals had to make a comeback.
So it felt like a no-brainer Fox would win NFC Special Teams Player of the Week. Of course the same could have been said for Aidan Hutchinson for NFC Defensive Player of the Week after he had 4.5 sacks in Week 2, and he was egregiously snubbed.
Jack Fox rightfully wins NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for Week 3
This week, the league got it right. Fox has been named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week after his big day in Week 3.
"In a grind-it-out 20-13 Detroit Lions win over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, field position proved pivotal and Fox played a vital role in the victory. Fox punted five times, with four placed inside the opposing 20-yard line. The big booter averaged 49.4 yards per punt with a 45.4 net."
-NFL.com
This is Fox's first Special Teams Player of the Week Award. He is the third Lions' punter to win the award, joining Sam Martin (Week 1, 2016) and Jim Arnold (Week 10, 1989).
.@MrJackFox, NFC Special Teams Player of the Week
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) September 25, 2024
Up next: #SEAvsDET | 📺 ABC/ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/gyLHto8p0z
For the season, Fox has eight punts that have been downed inside the 20, with a 49.5 yards per punt average and a 44-yard net average (eighth in the league). The 68-yarder from last Sunday is the second-longest punt in the league through three weeks.
The Lions' PR Twitter account further highlighted what Fox has done so far this season.
Among all @NFL punters this season, @Lions P @MrJackFox ranks:
— Detroit Lions PR (@LionsPR) September 24, 2024
- 1st in % of punts pinned I-10 (36.4%)
- 1st in return yards allowed (0)
- t-1st in punts returned (1)
- t-1st in punts pinned I-10 (4)
- 2nd in % of punts pinned I-20 (72.7%)
- t-4th in punts pinned I-20 (8) pic.twitter.com/0fSZVjQ2ol
The way he's performing, Week 3 might not be Fox's only Special Teams Player of the Week award this season.