Linebacker Deion Jones played his college ball at LSU before being drafted by the Falcons in the second round of this year’s draft and the New Orleans native made the most of his homecoming last Monday night.
Jones picked off a Drew Brees pass and returned it for 90 yards for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter. The play came with the Falcons up 38-25 and the Saints driving for a score that would have made for a tight game headed into the stretch. The Falcons went on to win 45-32 to move to 2-1 on the season.
Jones has also made 25 tackles in his first three games, which ranks at the top of all rookies in the league this season. All of that was enough to make Jones the choice as the NFL’s top defensive rookie for September.
Jones’ current teammates Matt Ryan and Julio Jones are the only other Falcons to be named a rookie of the month. Ryan was also named the NFC’s offensive player of the month on Thursday.