Jon Ryan wins award, steals special teams spotlight from Tyler Lockett

At a time when there’s so much focus on the climate of America, let it be a Canadian who steals the show.

The Regina, Saskatchewan native was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for Week 4 after punting it five times against the New York Jets and pinning four of them inside the 15. There wasn’t much of a spotlight placed on Ryan during or after the game (at least not that I could notice) but the league was aware of his accomplishments and rewarded him handsomely. Or, like, with this arbitrary honor that isn’t often bestowed upon a punter, which makes it pretty cool.

Typically this is an honor befit for kick and punt returner Tyler Lockett, who was NFC Special Teams Player for the Month last September, and Player of the Week last Week 17. But Lockett’s injuries have prevented him from returning a single kickoff this season (Hate to say I told you so, wait no I don’t — Told you so) though he does have a very respectable eight punt returns for 118 yards.

Per FootballOutsiders, the Seahawks are just above average in punting and punt coverage this season, but they are sixth overall in DVOA for all special teams plays.

Ryan was also NFC Special Teams Player of the Week in the final game of 2010, when Seattle beat the St. Louis Rams to win the NFC West and advance to the playoffs, setting up Marshawn Lynch for Beastquake. Ryan had seven punts for 243 yards that week — a low average, but four of those were inside the 10.

Oh, Canada.