Seattle Seahawks CB Devon Witherspoon Named NFC Defensive Player of Week
Seattle Seahawks rookie cornerback Devon Witherspoon has been named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week after his monstrous breakout performance in Monday night's 24-3 win over the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium.
Witherspoon's big night was highlighted by a 97-yard pick-six that essentially sealed the game for Seattle as the Giants were looking to punch it in at the goal line while trailing 14-3 in the third quarter. Instead, Witherspoon flipped momentum in a blink and made his name known on a national stage.
But even without his interception return, it's likely the rookie would've been named Defensive Player of the Week anyway. He finished with seven total tackles (six solo), two sacks, two tackles for loss and three quarterback hits to go along with the interception. Some defensive lineman and linebackers don't put up these kind of numbers, but Witherspoon did it in just his third-career game.
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) scores a touchdown after intercepting a pass thrown by New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (not pictured) in the second half.
© Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK
"I never thought he wouldn't play like this," Carroll said. "This is why we took him, to be active and to show that he gets this game of football, and it comes easy to him, and he's an explosive, dynamic player.
"He did a great job again tonight. You can see why we like him. We didn't have Artie (Burns) tonight and we didn't have Tre Brown tonight, so he had to (play nickel cornerback) all night long for us, and it was a beautiful job. He's showing you who he is."
The Seahawks have a bye in Week 5 but will get back to football in Week 6 against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 15 at 10 a.m. PT.
