What happens when you're in your first season – playing against one of the best tackles in the NFL – and record three sacks in front of a national audience? You become a nominee for Rookie of the Week honors.
That's right, folks, Washington Redskins linebacker Preston Smith is up for Rookie of the Week after getting the better end of a 1-on-1 matchup with Jason Peters on Saturday night, collecting a trio of sacks against the perennial Pro Bowler.
Smith's first sack came despite the fact Peters was called for holding. Sack No. 2 came just shy of halftime, while his last one – with the game almost in-hand – also resulted in a fumble.
Smith is up against Harold Jones-Quartey of the Chicago Bears, David Johnson of the Arizona Cardinals, Javorius Allen of the Baltimore Ravens and A.J. Tarpley of the Buffalo Bills.
The 2015 second-round pick is the second Redskins rookie to be up for the award this season, as Quinton Dunbar was also a nominee after picking off New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning in Week 12.
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