EAGAN, Minn. — Jonathan Greenard is being recognized for his impressive showing against the Texans.
Greenard recorded a hat trick of sacks against his former team Sunday, helping the Vikings rout Houston 34-7, and on Wednesday morning was announced as the Week 3 NFC Defensive Player of the Week.
His single-game career high of sacks helped limit quarterback C.J. Stroud, who finished with a passer rating of 68.6. Greenard recorded four tackles, including three for loss, on the day.
The 27-year-old has impressed through his first three games as a Viking, creating pressure on opposing quarterbacks even in instances he didn't register a sack. Greenard was credited with his first sack of the season in Week 2, when he shoved 49ers QB Brock Purdy out of bounds.
But if that play seemed anticlimactic, Greenard's outing against the Texans was anything but.
"To actually get a true sack here and feel the crowd noise – it was awesome," he said.
The Vikings racked up five total sacks against Houston, pushing the team's total to 16 through three games. Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores continues to flummox opposing offenses, and Greenard plans to continue playing a significant role in that.
Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell spoke Monday about admiring Greenard from afar, prior to signing him as a free agent this spring. Seeing those attributes up close has been even better.
"There was always the get-off. Just the explosiveness of his ability to get off the ball," O'Connell said. "Then speed, power, athleticism as a rusher really fits with how we want to play with the different variations of pressures.
"The sacks are going to come when you have the pressure rate that he's had through the first two games," O'Connell added. "So not surprised, but love, love what J.G. is doing."
Greenard made an impact on the first snap of the game, drawing a holding penalty against rookie tight end Cade Stover to negate a 17-yard completion.
Stroud's first official pass attempt of the day was tipped at the line by Harrison Phillips and intercepted by former Texans linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill.
Minnesota is the third team since 1990 to record at least five sacks in each of their first three games of a season, joining the 2000 Buccaneers and 2001 Saints.
Greenard is the 10th different Vikings player coached by O'Connell to win an NFC award in the first 37 weeks of the coach's tenure (full list below).
Greenard collects NFL Way to Play Award, too
It wasn't just what Greenard accomplished that deserved recognition. It was the way he did it.
Greenard has been selected as the NFL Way to Play Award recipient for Week 3 because of his rush technique when sacking Stroud. Good Morning Football announced Greenard's selection Wednesday.
The NFL Way to Play Awards, fueled by Gatorade, were created to "raise awareness of proper playing technique and to reward those who lead by example at all levels of football."
The NFL Foundation will award a $5,000 equipment grant through USA Football to a youth or high school football program of Greenard's choice.
NFC Players of the Week Under O'Connell
2024 Week 3 vs. Houston: Jonathan Greenard, OLB (Defensive)
2023 Week 14 at Las Vegas: Ivan Pace, Jr., LB (Defensive)
2023 Week 9 at Atlanta: Joshua Dobbs, QB (Offensive)
2023 Week 7 vs. San Francisco: Camryn Bynum, S (Defensive)
2023 Week 6 at Chicago: Jordan Hicks, LB (Defensive)
2022 Week 12 vs. New England: Kene Nwangwu, RB/KR (Special Teams)
2022 Week 10 at Buffalo: Justin Jefferson, WR (Offensive)
2022 Week 8 vs. Arizona: Za'Darius Smith, OLB (Defensive)
2022 Week 6 at Miami: Ryan Wright, P (Special Teams)
2022 Week 4 vs. New Orleans in London: Greg Joseph, K (Special Teams)
