Texans' Cashman garners AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors

Houston Texans linebacker Blake Cashman has been recognized for his outstanding performance on defense. Cashman was awarded the American Football Conference (AFC) Defensive Player of the Week honors following the Texans' 20-13 victory over the New Orleans Saints. This is the first time Cashman, a fifth-year veteran and University of Minnesota product, has received this accolade.

The Texans took to social media to celebrate Cashman's achievement, posting, "Cashed out on Sunday," on Oct. 18. According to a report on the Texans' website, Cashman's recognition marks the first time a Texan player has received the conference Defensive Player of the Week since cornerback Tavierre Thomas in the penultimate week of the 2021 season. Since their inception in 2022, the Texans have had 52 players named Player of the Week, with 19 of them coming from the defensive side.

Cashman's exceptional performance against the Saints contributed to his recognition. The 27-year-old linebacker achieved career highs of 15 tackles, two passes deflected, two tackles for loss, and a quarterback hit. Through six weeks of the season, Cashman has accumulated 31 tackles and an interception.

The Texans' victory over the Saints brings their record to 3-3, placing them at the .500 mark and sharing second place in the AFC South with the Indianapolis Colts, according to Yahoo Sports and Houston Daily. The Texans will have a bye week in Week 7 before facing the Carolina Panthers in Week 8. This matchup is highly anticipated as it features the top two picks of the 2023 NFL Draft. The Panthers selected Bryce Young from the University of Alabama with the No. 1 overall pick, while the Texans drafted Stroud shortly after.