ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Another Broncos defender has earned league-wide honors.
Following the Broncos' 33-10 Week 7 win over the Saints, inside linebacker Cody Barton has been named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week, the NFL announced Wednesday.
Barton tied for the team lead with eight tackles and also recorded a sack, forced fumble, pass defensed, fumble recovery and a touchdown. The 2024 free-agent addition returned a fumble 52 yards for a score in the fourth quarter of the Broncos' prime-time win.
Denver defenders have now earned AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors in two of the last three weeks. Barton joins cornerback Pat Surtain II (Week 5) in earning the award. Their success marks the first time since 2019 that two Denver players won AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors in the same season.
Barton is the eighth linebacker in franchise history to earn the award and the first since Von Miller was selected in 2018.
In addition to Barton and Surtain, kicker Wil Lutz has also earned Player of the Week honors this season. Denver last had three players earn Player of the Week honors in 2022.
Barton, a sixth-year player, has started four games this season and appeared in all seven contests.
