Los Angeles Rams rookie defensive back Kamren Kinchens was named the NFC’s Defensive Player of the Week for Week 11, the NFL announced on Wednesday.
Kinchens’ fourth-quarter interception clinched a 28-22 Rams victory against the New England Patriots. He also finished as the third-leading tackler on L.A.’s defense with eight, one for loss, along with one pass defended and one forced fumble in the win.
This is the second NFC Defensive Player of the Week win in three weeks for Kinchens, making him the first rookie since San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman Nick Bosa to do so since 2019 and the first rookie to win two in a three-week span since Brian Cushing with the Houston Texans in 2009.
This is the fourth league honor for the Rams defense this season. Kinchens makes up two with his two Defensive Player of the Week wins in Weeks 9 and 11. Cobie Durant won those honors in Week 7 and first-round pick Jared Verse won Defensive Rookie of the Month in September. Kinchens is almost certain to win that same award for November after his showing.
In the team’s first year without Aaron Donald anchoring the defense, defensive coordinator Chris Shula and his young unit have progressively gotten better each week. Kinchens played sparingly to begin the year, but started to show flashes in the secondary and is now playing regularly.
Coming out of Miami, Kinchens was lauded as a safety prospect because of his ability to generate turnovers and play physical either at the line of scrimmage or in coverage. While he was dinged for his lack of top-end speed and athleticism, Los Angeles has often gravitated toward players who know what spots to be in on any given play.
The Rams young and inexperienced secondary is starting to come into their own and earned the trust of the coaching staff. For example, relative unknown players like Josh Wallace and Jaylen McCollough have also made an impact and are also in line for expanded roles.
Kinchens has definitely earned more playing time as he’s shown he can change the tenor of a game with his ball-hawking talents.
Rams’ Sean McVay gives game ball to Kamren Kinchens and others
The Rams got back in the win column with a much-needed 28-22 victory over the Patriots in Week 11 that brought them back to .500 on the season.
The Rams got off to another slow start as they didn’t score their first points until the 7:18 mark in the second quarter. That’s when Matthew Stafford found Cooper Kupp in the end zone for his first of four touchdown passes.
L.A.’s defense also came up big as they held the Patriots to only two touchdowns and three field goals. Braden Fiske recorded a game-high two sacks and Kamren Kinchens had the big interception in the fourth quarter that solidified the win.
Rams head coach Sean McVay handed out game balls to Stafford, Fiske, Kinchens and others who spent time with the Patriots after the win.
