Standout Linebacker Cody Barton Earns AFC Defensive Player of the Week Honors
Cody Barton had an impressive performance last Thursday as the Broncos defeated the Saints 33-10 in New Orleans. He contributed significantly with one sack, one quarterback hit, one pass defended, one forced fumble, and eight tackles (six solo). Barton further made an impact by recovering a fumble, thanks to Ja’Quan McMillian’s strip-sack.
This fumble recovery resulted in a “scoop and score” for 52 yards, marking Barton’s second defensive touchdown of the night, although the first was nullified by a penalty. In recognition of his standout game, the AFC named Barton the Defensive Player of the Week.
First career AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors. 💪 pic.twitter.com/QOQ3hTXjps
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) October 23, 2024
Barton’s Thursday performance made him just the third Bronco since 1982 to achieve at least one sack, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery touchdown in a single game. In his first year with the Broncos and sixth in the NFL, he joins cornerback Pat Surtain II (Week 5 vs. L.V.) and kicker Wil Lutz (Week 3 at T.B.) as Broncos who have received Player of the Week honors this season.
This is also the first time since 2019 that two Broncos have been named AFC Defensive Player of the Week in the same season, following defensive end Dre’Mont Jones and safety Kareem Jackson. With this being his first career conference honor, Barton becomes the eighth Broncos linebacker to earn AFC Defensive Player of the Week accolades, the first since Von Miller in 2018. He joins a notable list of linebackers including Wesley Woodyard, Al Wilson, D.J. Williams, Glenn Cadrez, John Mobley, and Karl Mecklenburg.
Since the award’s inception in 1984, a total of 32 different Broncos have received it on 40 occasions. A native of Salt Lake City, Barton was signed by the Broncos as an unrestricted free agent this offseason. He has played in all seven games (four starts) and has recorded 45 tackles (23 solo), one sack, one pass defended, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.
Cody Barton was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his monster performance against the Saints. Barton had:
1 sack
1 forced fumble
1 fumble recovery
1 QB hit
1 touchdown
1 pass defended
8 tackles pic.twitter.com/TCntcAiICe— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevensDNVR) October 23, 2024
Over his career, the 2019 third-round pick from Seattle has accumulated 360 tackles (201 solo), three sacks, three interceptions, 10 passes defended, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries in 85 career games (33 starts).
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