By Tiffany Williams –
On Thursday, the NFL officially announced the recipients of the AFC Players of the Month for December and January, as well as the NFL Rookies of the Month for the same period.
Among the honorees, Jason Sanders, the talented kicker for the Miami Dolphins, stood out as one of three players recognized as AFC Players of the Month. This accolade highlights his exceptional performance during the critical late-season stretch. Throughout the five games played in December and January, Sanders amassed an impressive 51 points and distinguished himself as the only kicker in the AFC to successfully convert all his field goal attempts, provided he had a minimum of ten attempts. His remarkable kicking accuracy included a total of 15 field goals, with five coming from distances of 50 yards or more—the highest number of such long-range field goals in the entire NFL. This recognition marks the fifth Player of the Month award in Sanders’ career, placing him in a tie for the second-most awards by a kicker in NFL history, underscoring his consistent excellence in a demanding position.
On the rookie front, wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. of the Jacksonville Jaguars was honored as one of two Rookies of the Month for his standout performances during the same time frame. In just six games played in December and January, Thomas Jr. led all NFL rookies with an impressive 45 receptions and a total of 593 receiving yards, which translates to an average of 98.8 receiving yards per game. Additionally, he ranked second among rookies in touchdown receptions, registering five touchdowns during this span. This season has been particularly noteworthy for him, as he became only the fourth rookie in the Super Bowl era to surpass 1,100 receiving yards and achieve at least 10 touchdown receptions in a single season.
Thomas Jr.’s recognition is historic for the Jacksonville Jaguars, as he is the first wide receiver from the franchise to earn the Rookie of the Month distinction. He is also just the third former LSU wide receiver to receive this honor since the year 2000, joining the ranks of NFL stars Odell Beckham Jr. who was honored in November and December 2014, and Ja’Marr Chase, who won in September 2021.
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