Stephon Tuitt named AFC Defensive Player of the Week

Defensive end Stephon Tuitt was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week for Week 11, following a career-high 2.5 sacks in a single game.

Following Cameron Heyward‘s season-ending biceps injury, many asked who would step up in absence of the Steelers defensive captain. The Steelers pass rush had been lacking, an uncharacteristic league-worst 13 sacks heading into the Week 11 contest against the Cleveland Browns. The Steelers would have their largest sack total since 2005, with 8 total on the evening, in large part to Tuitt’s play.

Tuitt had six combined tackles in the game, including 5 quarterback hits and 2 tackles for a loss, including this crushing blow to Browns QB Josh McCown:

https://twitter.com/Steel_Curtain4/status/800441677437632512

Number 91 is the first Steelers defender to earn a Defensive Player of the Week award since Troy Polamalu did so nearly 3 years ago, in Week 12 of the 2013 season.