On Wednesday, the New England Patriots announced that Dont’a Hightower was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance during the Patriots 38-31 victory over the Chicago Bears on Sunday.
According to the team press release, the honor marks the second time in Hightower’s career that he has won a Player of the Week Award, the first coming during Week 6 in 2016 when he earned an AFC Defensive Player of the Week Award after recording 13 tackles and a sack in the end zone for a safety against the Cincinnati Bengals.
On Sunday, Hightower blocked a punt that was recovered and returned for a 29 yard touchdown by Kyle Van Noy. The score broke a 24-24 tie in the third quarter and put the Patriots in the lead for good.
The blocked punt return for a touchdown was the first for the Patriots since 1996.
Hightower’s selection marks the first Patriot to receive an AFC weekly honor during the 2018 season.
https://twitter.com/KVN_03/status/1054123565363195905
Appreciate it big homie!! #backerhood https://t.co/o8I7K4dlUb
— Dont'a Hightower (@zeus30hightower) October 21, 2018
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