HOUSTON – Houston Texans CB Derek Stingley Jr. has been named AFC Defensive Player of the Week, the NFL announced today.
In Week 16, Stingley totaled two tackles, one forced fumble and returned an interception 31 yards for a TD on the Raiders third play from scrimmage. It marked the Texans first interception return for a touchdown this season and the first of Stingley's NFL career. Stingley was the only player in the AFC to return an INT for a TD this week.
In addition to becoming just the third player in the NFL this season to record a forced fumble and an interception return for a TD in the same game, Stingley became the first player in franchise history to achieve the feat. The interception marked his fourth of the season, making him the only player in the NFL with at least four interceptions in each of the last three seasons.
On the year, Stingley has totaled 32 tackles, 13 passes defensed, four INTs and one forced fumble. He is part of a Texans secondary that became the first team since 2017 to feature four players with at least four interceptions in a single season and has started all 15 games for the NFL's league-leading defense in total yards allowed per game (272.3) and points per game allowed (16.6).
This marks the two-time Pro Bowler's third AFC Defensive Player of the Week honor of his career, all of which have come in December. Stingley has recorded seven interceptions over 12 career games in December, the most by any active player in the NFL. He becomes the third Texans player to earn AFC Player of the Week honors this season, joining Danielle Hunter (Week 10) and C.J. Stroud (Week 5).
