Seattle Seahawks CB Devon Witherspoon Named NFL Defensive Rookie of Month

Seattle Seahawks rookie cornerback Devon Witherspoon has gotten off to a hot start in his first NFL season.

Seattle Seahawks rookie cornerback Devon Witherspoon has been named the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Month for October, the league announced Thursday. He's joined by Minnesota Vikings receiver Jordan Addison, who won the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month.

Witherspoon, the No. 5 overall pick in April's draft, faced many questions about his potential productivity after a hamstring injury kept him out for parts of training camp, the preseason and the season opener. But he shut all that down after his third game as a pro.

In the 24-3 win over the New York Giants on Oct. 2, Witherspoon had his coming-out party. He posted seven total tackles (six solo), two sacks and had what was essentially a game-sealing 97-yard interception return for a touchdown.

Devon Witherspoon :: © Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK

With six games under his belt, Witherspoon has totaled 33 tackles and eight passes defended.

"I never thought he wouldn't play like this," Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said after the Giants game. "This is why we took him, to be active and to show that he gets this game of football, and it comes easy to him, and he's an explosive, dynamic player.

"He did a great job again tonight. You can see why we like him. We didn't have Artie (Burns) tonight and we didn't have Tre Brown tonight, so he had to (play nickel cornerback) all night long for us, and it was a beautiful job. He's showing you who he is."

The Seahawks (5-2) will visit the Baltimore Ravens (6-2) on Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium at 10 a.m. PT.