ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Denver Broncos linebacker Wesley Woodyard was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week, the National Football League announced on Wednesday.
Woodyard led Denver with 13 tackles (9 solo), one sack (12 yds.), one interception (8 yds.), two passes defensed and one forced fumble—exceeding or matching his previous career highs in every category—in Denver’s 34-14 win against new Orleans in Week 8.
He became the first NFL player since linebacker Napoleon Harris (K.C.) in 2007 to record double-digit tackles, a sack, an interception and a forced fumble in a single game (ninth time overall since sacks were tracked beginning in 1982).
Woodyard leads the Broncos this season with 58 tackles in addition to posting three sacks (28 yds.), two interceptions (15 yds.), three passes defensed and one forced fumble. He joins Cleveland linebacker D’Qwell Jackson as the only two players in the NFL this year with at least 50 tackles, three sacks and two interceptions.
The award marks the first conference Defensive Player of the Week recognition of Woodyard’s career and represents the 24th AFC Defensive Player of the Week honor in Broncos history. Cornerback Tracy Porter was the most recent recipient of the award, earning the distinction in Week 1 this season.