Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. is the AFC Defensive Player of the Month and Green Bay Packers safety Xavier McKinney is the NFC Defensive Player of the Month for October.

The Alabama alumni were among the winners of the monthly awards announced by the NFL on Thursday.

In four October games, Anderson recorded 17 tackles, seven tackles for loss, five sacks, one fumble recovery and one pass defensed.

His seven tackles for loss led the NFL, and his five sacks led the AFC. Anderson was the only player to record at least 15 tackles, five sacks and a pass defensed in the Week 5 through 8 games.

Anderson is the third former Alabama player to win a Defensive Player of the Week Award as a lineman. Antwan Odom won in September 2009, and Quinnen Williams won in October 2022.

In four October games, McKinney totaled 19 tackles, three passes defensed, two interceptions, one fumble recovery and one sack. He was the only player with multiple interceptions, a sack and a fumble recovery in the Week 5 through 8 games.

McKinney collected his league-leading sixth interception of the season on Sunday, becoming the fifth player since 2000 with an interception in six of his team’s first eight games of a season.

McKinney is the third former Alabama safety to earn Player of the Month Honors. Landon Collins won in November 2016 and Eddie Jackson won in November 2018.

The other Player of the Month winners for October were Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff, NFC Offensive; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, AFC Offensive; Arizona Cardinals kicker Chad Ryland, NFC Special Teams; and Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Chris Boswell, AFC Special Teams.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.