Broncos’ Wesley Woodyard Named AFC Defensive Player of the Week

Wesley Woodyard reacts while facing the Oakland Raiders during the first quarter of an NFL football game in Denver. (David Zalubowski/AP Photo)

For the second time this season, a Denver Broncos defensive player was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week.

Linebacker Wesley Woodyard almost made the game look too easy with his 13 tackles, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble, 1 sack, and 2 deflected passes against the New Orleans Saints in week 8.

The bye week certainly helped the entire defense regroup, and there was no bigger beneficiary than Woodyard.

“We were able to get fresh,” Woodyard said after the game. “We were able to get back, sit down, and work on the mistakes that we made in the first six weeks.”

Woodyard gave credit to his defensive line which “clicked,” and gave him the chance to move around making plays.

The six year linebacker undrafted out of Kentucky has been filling in for suspended linebacker D.J. Williams. Woodyard leads the team with 61 tackles through 7 games. He also has 3 sacks, 2 interceptions, and a forced fumble.

The last time a Broncos linebacker had multiple interceptions in one season was in 2004 when Al Wilson did it.

Woodyard joins Tracy Porter in player of the week honors this season. Porter got the honor after his week one performance against the Pittsburgh Steelers which was highlighted by his pick-6 to seal the game.

Woodyard is in the lineup to stay even when Williams returns. Talk about making the most of an opportunity. It couldn’t have happened to a better guy. Williams is just the second Denver Bronco to be named team captain in his first five seasons in the league.

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