Cox Honored as NFC Defensive Player of the Month

PHILADELPHIA (973espn.com) - Those wondering if Fletcher Cox would live up to his massive six-year $103 million deal in the offseason have gotten some positive early results.

The Pro Bowl defensive tackle was named the NFC’s Defensive Player of the Month Thursday after contributing 11 tackles, three sacks,and a forced fumble during the team’s surprising 3-0 start.

Cox has provided a consistent interior push in the pass rush and has enabled defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz to stick to his preferred plan of a four-man rush for the most part.

That luxury enables Schwartz to keep seven in coverage on the majority of passing plays, which has enabled the Eagles’ top-ranked scoring defense to mask some of the deficiencies it has outside the numbers at the cornerback position.

Meanwhile, a day after being named the NFC's Offensive Player of the Week, Carson Wentz added another accolade to the Wentz Wagon, being named NFC Offensive Rookie of the Month.

The second overall pick in April's draft, Wentz has thrown for 769 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions, becoming the first rookie QB since the 1970 merger to win his first three starts without turning the football over.

-John McMullen covers the Eagles and the NFL for 973espn.com. You can reach him at jmcmullen44@gmail.com or on Twitter @JFMcMullen