NEW YORK – Buffalo Bills running back James Cook, Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd and Indianapolis Colts kicker Spencer Shrader are the AFC Players of the Month for September (Weeks 1-4).
OFFENSE: RB JAMES COOK, BUFFALO BILLS
- Cook totaled 490 scrimmage yards (401 rushing, 89 receiving) and five rushing touchdowns in September and became the sixth player in the Super Bowl era with at least 100 scrimmage yards and a rushing touchdown in each of his team’s first four games of a season.
- This is Cook’s first-career Player of the Month award, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer Thurman Thomas (September and November, 1991) as the only Bills running backs to ever earn the honor.
- Cook becomes the third-ever former University of Georgia running back to win the award, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer Terrell Davis (four-time winner) and Todd Gurley (three-time winner).
DEFENSE: LB DEVIN LLOYD, JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
- Lloyd recorded 17 tackles, three interceptions, two tackles for loss and a fumble recovery in September. His three interceptions led the AFC and he was the only player in the NFL with a takeaway in three games during the first month of the season.
- This is Lloyd’s first-career Defensive Player of the Month award, becoming the fourth defensive player in Jaguars franchise history to earn the honor, joining cornerback Aaron Beasley (September, 1999), defensive end Tony Brackens (October and November, 1999) and linebacker Mike Peterson (December, 2005).
- Lloyd becomes the first former University of Utah player to ever win Defensive Player of the Week.
SPECIAL TEAMS: K SPENCER SHRADER, INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
- Shrader led the NFL in field goals made (13) and total points scored (51) in September, becoming the only player to record more than 40 points in the season’s first month. He missed only one of his 26 kicks (14 field goal attempts, 12 point-after attempts).
- This is Shrader’s first-career Player of the Month award, becoming the fourth Indianapolis kicker to ever earn the honor, joining Mike Vanderjagt (three-time winner), Adam Vinatieri (two-time winner) and Cary Blanchard.
