Falcons’ Jessie Bates III named NFC defensive player of the week
FLOWERY BRANCH — Falcons safety Jessie Bates III was named the NFC’s defensive player of the week for Week 1 on Wednesday by the NFL.
Bates, who signed a four-year, $64.02 million contract in free agency, finished with 10 total tackles, two interceptions, two passes defensed and one forced fumble in the Falcons’ 24-10 win over the Panthers on Sunday.
“It was really cool to be able to represent the Falcons, the city of Atlanta and my family,” Bates said. “It is easy to do it for one week. I just have to be consistent and play at a high level not just for myself, but for this team.”
The Falcons scored 17 points off of the three turnovers that Bates forced.
Bates became the first Falcon to have multiple interceptions in a season opener since Bobby Butler in 1984.
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Honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame in recognition of his "long and distinguished reporting in the field of pro football," D. Orlando Ledbetter, Esq. has covered the NFL 28 seasons. A graduate of Howard University, he's a winner of Georgia Sportswriter of the Year and three Associated Press Sports Editor awards.
