Rams-Redskins: Tavon Austin Named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week

Tavon Austin has picked up his second NFC Special Teams Player of the Week award for his league-best 143-punt return yard performance against Washington on Sunday.

Here's what the release had to say about the accolade:

• Austin returned a punt 78 yards for a touchdown and averaged 35.8 yards per return in the Rams’ 24-0 win at Washington. He finished with 143 punt-return yards, 46 rushing yards and 14 receiving yards.

• He had three punt returns of at least 25 yards (37, 28 and 78) and his 143 punt-return yards are the most by a player in a game this season. Austin’s 143 punt-return yards are the most by an NFC player in a game since he had 145 yards on November 10, 2013 against Indianapolis.
• Austin has two career punt-return touchdowns and nine total touchdowns (four receiving, three rushing, two punt returns) in his first two NFL seasons.

• He ranks second in the NFL with 332 punt-return yards and his 11.1 yards per return average ranks second among players with at least 25 punt returns.
• In his second season from West Virginia, this is Austin’s second career Player of the Week Award (Week 10, 2013).

Interestingly enough, it's the Rams' third designee for the award this year. Stedman Bailey picked his up in Week 7 for the Mountaineer. Greg Zuerlein earned the award in week 11 for his five-field goal showing in the Rams' 22-7 win over Denver. And now Tavon Austin has his second of his career...which puts him in very impressive company.

Tavon Austin (@TayAustin01) is 1st to win a Player of Week Award in each of 1st 2 seasons w/ @STLouisRams since @MarshallFaulk

— Randall Liu (@RLiuNFL) December 10, 2014