Jonathan Taylor, Marcus Jones & Wil Lutz Named October AFC Players of the Month

OFFENSE: RB JONATHAN TAYLOR, INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

• Taylor led the NFL with 10 scrimmage touchdowns (league-high nine rushing, one receiving) and led the AFC in scrimmage yards (529) and rushing yards (436) as the Colts went 4-0 during the month of October. He recorded three touchdowns in three of four games and became the fifth player since 2000 with at least three scrimmage touchdowns in four games in a season, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers LaDainian Tomlinson (six games in 2006 with the San Diego Chargers) and Marshall Faulk (five in 2000 with the St. Louis Rams) as well as Shaun Alexander (four in 2005 with Seattle) and Priest Holmes (four in 2002 and four in 2003, both with Kansas City).

• The award marks Taylor’s third-career Player of the Month recognition, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Eric Dickerson (December, 1988) and Edgerrin James (November, 1999; October, 2000; October, 2005) as the only Colts running backs to ever earn the honor.

• Taylor is the only former Wisconsin running back to win the award.

DEFENSE: CB MARCUS JONES, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

• Jones recorded 20 tackles, four tackles for loss, one sack and tied for the league-lead with eight passes defensed and two interceptions as the Patriots went 4-0 during the month of October. He became the third defensive back since 2000 to record a tackle for loss and pass defensed in four consecutive games, joining Jalen Pitre (2024) and Jalen Ramsey (2021).

• This is Jones’ first-career Defensive Player of the Month award, becoming the fifth Patriots defensive back to receive the honor, joining cornerback Stephon Gilmore (October, 2019), defensive back J.C. Jackson (November 2021), safety Devin McCourty (September 2019) and safety Eugene Wilson (September, 2004).

• Jones joins linebacker Simon Fletcher as the only former Houston players to win Defensive Player of the Month.

SPECIAL TEAMS: K WIL LUTZ, DENVER BRONCOS

• Lutz converted all 15 of his kicks (nine of nine on point after attempts, six of six on field goals) as the Broncos went undefeated in the month of October, including game-winning field goals in Weeks 6 and 7.

• This marks Lutz’s third-career Player of the Month award (September, 2018 with New Orleans; November, 2023 with Denver). He becomes the fifth Broncos kicker to earn the honor, joining Connor Barth, Jason Elam, Brandon McManus and Matt Prater (two-time winner).

• Lutz is the only former Georgia State player to receive the award.