Christian Gonzalez named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month
The NFL announced the players of the month for September. Colombian cornerback Christian Gonzalez, of the Patriots, was named as the defensive rookie.
New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month for September after great performances during the first three games of the regular season. Gonzalez, the fifth Patriots player to win the honor, recorded his first sack during the opening week of the new season against the NFC champion, the Philadelphia Eagles’ - he sacked QB Jalen Hurts for an 8-yard loss in the fourth quarter. So far, the 21-year-old has 16 tackles, one sack, and three passes defended in his first three NFL starts. He chalked his first interception in the 17-24 loss to Tua Tagovailoa’s Miami Dolphins.
Gonzalez has shut down the likes of AJ Brown, Tyreek Hill and Garrett Wilson. This Sunday, he will have a more complicated mission against a wide receiver like Ceedee Lamb, who has had a great start to the campaign.
The other winners
Tua precisely won the award for best AFC Offensive Player of the month of September. He threw eight touchdown passes and was only intercepted twice during his first three games. Tagovailoa has accumulated 1,024 passing yards with a 71.3 completion percentage.
T.J. Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Watt was the AFC’s Defensive Player of the Month after his six sacks in the first three games, while Buffalo Bills kicker Tyler Bass, who averaged 54.9 yards per punt on 14 kicks this month, was the Special Teams player.
In the NFC, Christian McCaffrey was considered the Offensive Player of the Month - this, thanks to his more than 350 yards rushing in his first three games of the season. Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons was the conference’s Defensive Player of the Month.