Broncos Linebacker Gets An Award For Being A Tackling Machine

Denver Broncos linebacker Alex Singleton has been a tackling machine lately, and it’s being noticed, as Singleton was recognized as the AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his work against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. 

The news was reported by Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk and multiple other outlets, and some of the numbers that came with it are eye-openers. Singleton had 19 tackles against Arizona in Denver’s 30-16 win, and that came after he posted 13 in the Broncos’ 17-14 overtime win against the Seattle Seahawks on Oct. 15. 

The Broncos have also been hitting the quarterback a lot. They pounded Sam Darnold of Seattle with 18 quarterback hits, and Arizona QB took a beating with nearly that many. 

Singleton also had a sack and two of those quarterback hits in the win, and he’s also leading the league with at total of 87 tackles this season. That’s an All-Pro campaign waiting to happen provided the linebacker can keep it going.

The big difference for Singleton this year is his health. He missed multiple games last season after receiving a diagnosis of testicular cancer, and that diagnosis also came with some emotional and mental hurdles. 

The Broncos rewarded Singleton with an extension, and he’s justifying their faith in him. Singleton makes many of the calls on defense, and coordinator Vance Joseph typically relies on him to get everyone lined up where they’re supposed to be. 

The linebacker has had to do it with some new names this year. The Broncos have had linebacker Jonathon Cooper out due to legal issues related to a pair of arrests after a domestic violence back in June, and against the Seahawks, linebacker Jonah Elliss had to hop off the field on one leg late in the game due to an injury. The Broncos also played Arizona with half their secondary out as Pat Surtain II and Talanoa Hufanga missed the game with injuries. 

But others have stepped up. Singleton’s biggest play may have come with Arizona driving and on the Denver 1-yard line late in the game, but it was fellow linebacker Que Robinson who rushed Brissett when the quarterback retreated to throw, and Singleton finished the play with a key sack. 

The big test comes on Sunday when the Kansas City Chiefs come to Mile High Empower, as the Broncos will try to have a better day tackling running back Kenneth Walker III than they did in Week 1.