Tyrann Mathieu receives monthly rookie honor from NFL

Rookie Tyrann Mathieu has been making an impact on the playing field on a weekly basis. Arizona Cardinals fans know this already. He has prevented a touchdown with an incredible strip. He stuffed the Lions on fourth down on their final offensive play.

He seemingly does at least one impactful thing every game.

The NFL has recognized his play and he has been named October's NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month.

In October, he logged 21 tackles, an interception, a sack and five passes defensed, starting four games.

The Cardinals third-round selection (69th overall), Mathieu recorded his second INT of the season last Sunday when he picked off Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan in the fourth quarter. He also finished that game with seven tackles and two passes defensed. Mathieu collected his first career sack in the Cardinals Week 5 victory over Carolina, taking down Panthers QB Cam Newton.

Mathieu is one of just six players in the NFL with at least two interceptions, a sack, and a forced fumble on the season joining Buffalo LB Kiko Alonso, Baltimore LB Daryl Smith, Carolina S Mike Mitchell, New York Giants S Antrel Rolle, and Denver LB Danny Trevathan. Mathieu and Alonso are the only two rookies on the list.

He is the third Cardinals player to be named "Defensive Rookie of the Month" following Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie in December, 2008 and Simeon Rice in September 1996. Mathieu is the fifth Cardinal rookie to be honored, joining Rodgers-Cromartie, Rice, quarterback Jake Plummer (Offense, November 1997) and wide receiver Anquan Boldin (Offense, September and November, 2003).