Xavier Watts named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month
The rookie safety is off to a great start in his professional career.
Atlanta Falcons safety Xavier Watts was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month, the league announced Wednesday.
This accolade comes amid the Falcons' Week 5 bye. The team is 2-2.
Atlanta selected Watts with the No. 96 overall pick in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft. He was named the starter opposite veteran Jessie Bates III before Week 1. Since then, he has proven to be a ball hawk in the secondary, grabbing two picks already.
Watts is one of just 13 players in the NFL with more than one interception. Only two players have more than him — Chicago Bears safety Kevin Byard and Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd — and both of them are veterans. Watts is the only rookie in the league with more than one interception.
In fact, Watts is the first Falcons rookie with multiple picks since linebacker Deion Jones in 2016 and the first with multiple picks through the first four games since linebacker Al Richardson, who was later voted Defensive Rookie of the Year, and defensive back Kenny Johnson in 1980.
Watts' interceptions came in each of the Falcons' wins. He picked off Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy in Week 2 and then Washington Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota in Week 4. Watts’ interception in Minnesota sealed Atlanta's victory in the fourth quarter. His interception against Washington prevented the Commanders from scoring off a deep ball in the end zone when Atlanta had a two-possession lead.
"Shoot, you're talking about the Rookie of the Week and definitely put himself in contention for Rookie of the Year," Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich said on Sept. 11. "He played that type of game (against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers). You saw just the exceptional ball skills, instinct, feel that he has. Now we've just got to refine it and just keep working with him.
"The beauty of X — and I'm getting to know him as we go here — he just feels like a guy that will never be satisfied. He's just going to keep pushing to get better. Guys have a little success early on. Sometimes that's dangerous. They kick their feet up and they believe, 'I got it.' And I don't feel that from him at all."
Overall, Watts has totaled 23 tackles, 17 of which were solo. He has also had four pass breakups.
Dodgers Make Final Decision on Shohei Ohtani Pitching During NLDS Series vs. Phillies
The Los Angeles Dodgers are looking to repeat as MLB champions, but they will face a much tougher road this postseason.
They earned themselves a bye last season, however they dipped a bit and had to brave a trip to the National League Wild Card series this year.
The Dodgers easily knocked off the Cincinnati Reds in the series, winning by a combined nine runs in the two games.
Now, they will head East to take on the Philadelphia Phillies, but not before manager Dave Roberts made a big announcement .
Roberts told reporters in his postgame press conference that star pitcher and designated hitter Shohei Ohtani will take the mound for game one in Philadelphia.
Ohtani didn’t have the luxury of making the playoffs when he was with the Los Angeles Angels and was unable to pitch for the Dodgers last year because he was still recovering from an injury.
Now, he gets the opportunity to showcase his unprecedented talents on the game’s biggest stage.
The Japanese superstar has dominated both at the plate and on the mound in his career, but has ultimately been somewhat of a part-time pitcher due to frequent arm injuries.
Los Angeles did a tremendous job of managing his workload this season and now Ohtani will finally show his true impact. He is currently batting .333 with two home runs and four RBIs in just two games, so he is giving fans hope for a special playoff run.
The Phillies have a gauntlet of talented hitters — mainly infielders Bryce Harper and Trea Turner and designated hitter Kyle Schwarber — so Ohtani will have his work cut out for him.
The series between Los Angeles and Philadelphia begins this Saturday as two of the most expensive rosters in baseball face off.
With perennial All-Stars and MVP candidates across the board, the Phillies-Dodgers showdown could be one for the ages.
