Alex Singleton Named AFC Defensive Player of the Month for October

Denver Broncos linebacker Alex Singleton has been named AFC Defensive Player of the Month for October, the NFL announced on Thursday. The honour follows a stretch in which he led the league in tackles, and it marks his second straight season of league-wide recognition from defensive coordinator Vance Joseph's unit.

A standout October for the Broncos

In Weeks 4 through 8, Singleton posted 68 total tackles, 15 more than the next closest player. He also recorded five tackles for loss, five quarterback hits, two sacks and a pass defence across the five games. He had at least one tackle for loss in each of those games and at least 13 tackles in four of them.

Singleton became just the third player since at least 1987 to post at least 68 tackles, two sacks and five tackles for loss in a five-game span. He joined Pro Football Hall of Famer Zach Thomas and former first-team All-Pro Shaquille Leonard on that list. Over the stretch, Denver went 4-1 and finished in first place in the AFC West.

Singleton had already been named AFC Defensive Player of the Week after the Broncos' Week 7 win over the Arizona Cardinals. In that game he recorded the most tackles by any player in a game this season, and the most by a Broncos defender since 2022. His third-down sack of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes led to a missed field-goal attempt that preceded Denver's late go-ahead score in a key division win.

He is the first Broncos linebacker to win the monthly award since Von Miller in 2021. He joins Miller, DeMarcus Ware, Simon Fletcher and Karl Mecklenburg as the only Broncos linebackers to earn it since its creation in 1986.

Coach praises long-running consistency

Joseph, Denver's defensive coordinator, said he was not surprised by the recognition. "I told him this last year, 'I don't see a lot of guys better than you,'" Joseph told reporters. He described Singleton as the team's on-field leader for communication on defence and called him "the best backer in football for a long time."

Joseph also pointed to Singleton's earlier production. He noted the linebacker had 171 tackles two seasons ago, a total he said few people discuss. "That's the league," Joseph said of the wait for wider recognition. "When you're playing good on defence, guys do get recognized."

Singleton called the honour "sick" but turned the credit to his teammates. When told of Joseph's comments, he said the coach's support meant a great deal to him. "To have his support is everything," he said.

Path to Denver and recent health battle

Singleton, a native of Thousand Oaks, California, spent three seasons with the Calgary Stampeders after being selected sixth overall in the 2016 CFL Draft. He later won the Grey Cup with the Stampeders in 2018 before returning to the NFL. He has since spent three seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles and five with the Broncos, the last four under Joseph.

The 32-year-old is a team captain and was voted by teammates as the recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award. He earned that honour after recovering from surgery to remove a cancerous tumour in November. Across 103 career games, he has 869 tackles, 30 tackles for loss, seven sacks, three forced fumbles, three interceptions and two defensive touchdowns.

What we know so far

Singleton leads the NFL with 101 total tackles through eight games, the third player since 2000 to reach 100 in a team's first eight games. The Broncos, who are 6-2, are scheduled to visit the Carolina Panthers (3-4) on Sunday, November 8, at 1:00 p.m. ET. Singleton is expected to remain central to Denver's defence as the season continues.

Attribution: Denver Broncos reporting; 3DownNation; Athlon Sports.

Note: Singleton's Canadian citizenship, obtained through his mother, was noted in one report.

Denver's defence has made consistent plays in recent weeks, Singleton said, adding that the unit has made few mistakes over the last two months.

Singleton's Canadian background, including his time in the CFL, has drawn attention in Canadian football circles.

Quarter note.