Royal named AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for October

Former Virginia Tech standout Eddie Royal has been honored by the NFL as the AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for October. Royal totaled 292 return yards and two return touchdowns while helping Denver to a 3-0 record in October. He returned eight punts for 134 yards (16.8 average) with a 71-yard touchdown and posted five kick returns for 158 yards (31.6 average), including a 93-yard score.

He was the only player in the NFL for the month to rank among the league’s top four in kick return average (third, 31.6) and punt return average (fourth, 16.8).

In Week 6 against San Diego (10/19), Royal became only the 11th player in NFL history (second Bronco) and sixth player since the 1970 merger to score a touchdown on a kick return and punt return in the same game. His two combined kick return touchdowns led the NFL for the month.

In his second year from Virginia Tech, this is Royal’s first career Player of the Month Award.  Royal is the second Bronco to win Special Teams Player of the Month this season (Matt Prater in September).