Vikings' Danielle Hunter earns NFC Defensive Player of Week after 3.5 sacks vs. Lions

Danielle Hunter had 3.5 of the Vikings' franchise-record 10 sacks of Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford. and returned a fumble for a touchdown.

November 7, 2018 at 2:55PM
(The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Minnesota Vikings' Danielle Hunter recovers a fumble and returns it 32-yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Detroit Lions on Sunday, Nov. 4, 2018 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn. (Carlos Gonzalez/Minneapolis Star Tribune/TNS) ORG XMIT: 1244598
(TNS - TNS/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Danielle Hunter was recognized as the NFC's best defensive player for Week 9 after spearheading the Vikings defense in a 24-9 win against the Lions on Sunday.

Hunter had a career-high 3.5 of the Vikings' franchise-record 10 sacks of Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford. The Vikings' defensive star also added his second career touchdown on a 32-yard fumble recovery that sealed the win in the fourth quarter.

It's Hunter's first NFC Defensive Player of the Week honor, becoming the eighth different Vikings defender to earn the recognition in head coach Mike Zimmer's 4 1/2 seasons orchestrating the defense.

Hunter, who just turned 24 years old on Oct. 29, leads the NFL with 11.5 sacks this season.

about the writer

about the writer

Andrew Krammer

Reporter

Andrew Krammer covers the Vikings for the Minnesota Star Tribune, entering his sixth NFL season. From the Metrodome to U.S. Bank Stadium, he's reported on everything from Case Keenum's Minneapolis Miracle, the offensive line's kangaroo court to Adrian Peterson's suspension.

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