SEAHAWKS QB GENO SMITH, VIKINGS LB ZA’DARIUS SMITH & COMMANDERS P TRESS WAY NAMED NFC PLAYERS OF THE MONTH FOR OCTOBER
Quarterback GENO SMITHof the Seattle Seahawks, linebacker ZA’DARIUS SMITH of the Minnesota Vikings and punter TRESS WAY of the Washington Commanders are the NFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Month for the month of October.
OFFENSE: QB GENO SMITH, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
- Smith completed 102 of 147 pass attempts (69.4 percent) for 1,207 yards with nine touchdown passes for a 111.7 rating in five games during the month of October, leading the Seahawks to a 4-1 record. He had the highest passer rating of any NFC quarterback during the month.
- Smith also recorded 143 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown in October. His 10 total touchdowns led all NFC quarterbacks from Weeks 4-8 and he leads the league in completion percentage (72.7 percent) through the first eight weeks of the season.
- This is the first Offensive Player of the Month award for Smith. He is the fifth Seahawks quarterback to ever earn the honor.
- Smith becomes the first-ever player from West Virginia University to win Offensive Player of the Month honors, and first former Mountaineer to win a Player of the Month Award since Pat McAfee won AFC Special Teams Player of the Month in 2014 (September).
DEFENSE: LB ZA’DARIUS SMITH, MINNESOTA VIKINGS
- Smith led all players with 6.5 sacks and led all NFC players with eight tackles for loss as part of a Vikings team that went 4-0 in the month of October.
- Smith leads the NFL in tackles for loss with 13 and ranks tied for first with 8.5 sacks through the first eight weeks of the season.
- This is the first Defensive Player of the Month award for Smith and he is the second Vikings linebacker to earn the honor, joining Jack Del Rio (September, 1994).
- Smith becomes the first former Kentucky linebacker and second former Wildcat overall to win a Defensive Player of the Month award, joining defensive end Art Still (December, 1986).
SPECIAL TEAMS: P TRESS WAY, WASHINGTON COMMANDERS
- Way averaged 46.8 yards per punt, with an NFC-best 45.1 net average on 28 punts during the month of October. He placed a league-high 16 punts inside of the 20-yard line, including a league-best six inside of the 10-yard line.
- This is the first Special Teams Player of the Month award for Way. He becomes the second Washington punter to be named Special Teams Player of the Month, joining Matt Turk (October, 1997).
- He is the first former Oklahoma player to be named Special Teams Player of the Month and sixth former Sooner overall to earn a Player of the Month award.
2022 NFC PLAYERS OF THE MONTH
| Offense | Defense | Special Teams | |
| September | QB Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia | LB Devin White, Tampa Bay | P Mitch Wishnowsky, San Francisco |
| October | QB Geno Smith, Seattle | LB Za’Darius Smith, Minnesota | P Tress Way, Washington |
