Eden Prairie, MN (September 28, 2016) – Minnesota Vikings DE Everson Griffenhas been named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week for the second time in his career (at Green Bay – 1/3/16) after recording four tackles (three solo), including three tackles for loss and three sacks, and nine quarterback hurries in Minnesota's Week Three victory over the 2015 NFC Champion Carolina Panthers. 

Griffen matched a 2016 NFL single-game high with three quarterback drops and now owns the league's fourth-most sacks (26.5) since the start of the 2014 season. The seventh-year defensive end has four sacks on the season, tied for second most in the NFL. His three-sack performance at Carolina matched his career high he set previously vs. Green Bay (12/30/12) and at Buffalo (10/19/14).

The Southern California product was drafted by the Vikings in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL Draft and has produced 222 tackles (138 solo), 66.0 tackles for loss, 44.0 sacks
(-232 yards), four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, one interception and 12 passes defensed in his seven-year career.

Griffen represents the 10th Player of the Week award earned in the past three seasons under Mike Zimmer and the sixth defensive player to earn the honor.

VIKINGS TO BE NAMED NFC PLAYER OF THE WEEK UNDER ZIMMER

Defensive, Anthony Barr, LB, 2014, Week 8, at Tampa Bay

Special Teams, Adam Thielen, WR, 2014, Week 13, vs. Carolina

Special Teams, Marcus Sherels, PR, 2015, Week 8, at Chicago

Defensive, Linval Joseph, DT, 2015, Week 9, vs. St. Louis

Defensive, Terence Newman, CB, 2015, Week 10, at Oakland

Special Teams, Blair Walsh, K, 2015, Week 16, vs. NY Giants

Defensive, Everson Griffen, DE, 2015,Week 17, at Green Bay

Defensive, Eric Kendricks, LB, 2016, Week 1, at Tennessee

Offensive, Stefon Diggs, WR, 2016, Week 2, vs. Green Bay

Defensive, Everson Griffen, DE, 2016, Week 3, at Carolina