ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Denver Broncos rookie linebacker Von Miller will be named AFC Defensive Player of the Week, the National Football League informed the Broncos on Wednesday.
Miller totaled a career-high 10 tackles (9 solo), including 1.5 sacks (12 yds.) and three tackles for a loss, in addition to four quarterback hits, one forced fumble and one pass defensed in Denver’s 17-13 win against the N.Y. Jets in Week 11.
He is the first Broncos player to win the award since cornerback Champ Bailey received the honor in 2009 (Week 4). Since the award was initiated by the NFL in 1984, a total of 22 Broncos players, including Miller, have been honored.
Miller, who was Denver’s No. 2 overall selection in the 2011 NFL Draft, is the first NFL rookie to be named AFC Defensive Player of the Week since Houston linebacker Brian Cushing in 2009 (Week 8).
For the season, Miller ranks third on the club with 48 tackles (38 solo), while leading the team in sacks (9.5), tackles for a loss (14), quarterback hits (20) and forced fumbles (3). His 9.5 sacks represent the most among league rookies and rank fifth among all players. He also joins Derrick Thomas (9.5; 1989) and Julius Peppers (11.0; 2002) as the only three rookies in NFL history (since 1982) to record at least 9.5 sacks through 10 games.