The NFL announced that Los Angeles Rams linebacker Micah Kiser was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in Week 2 against the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Rams were easily able to defeat the Eagles, 37-19, thanks in part to Kiser’s big day in just his second game as a starting linebacker.
Kiser led the Rams were 16 total tackles (11 solo) and also added a pass defensed as he did a solid job in coverage against the Eagles’ tight end duo of Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert. Kiser also forced a fumble of Miles Sanders on the first possession of the game, which led to the Rams’ first touchdown.
Through the first two games of the season, Kiser’s 17 solo tackles are the most in the league, while he is tied for third with Dallas Cowboys linebacker Jaylon Smith and Minnesota Vikings linebacker Eric Kendricks with 23 total tackles.
After the Rams watched star linebacker Cory Littleton depart in free agency this year, that left a huge void in the middle of their defense. It was immediately unclear who would fill that, although Kiser has been able to step in right away and do exactly that.
The Rams drafted Kiser in the fifth round in 2018 out of Virginia. He played mostly special teams during his rookie season and then missed the entire 2019 season due to a pec injury, so this is his first real taste of playing linebacker in the NFL.
He will look to continue his success in Week 3 when the Rams travel to take on a tough Buffalo Bills teams.
