Outside linebacker Aldon Smith was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week, the league announced Wednesday morning.Smith took over the NFL lead in sacks with a dominating performance Monday night for the 49ers against the Chicago Bears. He was credited with 5.5 sacks, seven quarterback hits, seven tackles and two forced fumbles in his 48 snaps from scrimmage in the 49ers' 32-7 victory.RECAP: 49ers rout Bears on Monday night
Smith leads the NFL with 15 sacks, two ahead of Denver's Von Miller. Smith finished as the runner-up in the voting to Miller last season for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. Another second-year player, Houston's J.J. Watt, is third with 11.5 sacks.Smith has registered 29 career sacks in 26 regular-season games. It is already the third-highest total in NFL history for a player in his first two seasons, ranking behind Reggie White (31) and Derrick Thomas (30). Smith still has six more games to move up the list.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.