Week 16: Rodney McLeod, Philadelphia Eagles

Philadelphia Eagles safety Rodney McLeod, who played at DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, has been named the DC Touchdown Club Pro Football Player of the Week.

McLeod intercepted one pass and returned it 24 yards to set up the game’s first touchdown and later deflected another pass that a teammate returned for a touchdown as the Eagles moved closer to a playoff spot by beating the New York Giants, 34-7.

It was the sixth win in eight games for Philadelphia (8-7).

McLeod starred at DeMatha and the University of Virginia. He signed with the St. Louis Rams as an undrafted free agent and played there for four seasons, eventually becoming a starter. He joined the Eagles in 2016 as a free agent, signing a five-year, $35 million contract.

McLeod has excelled on and off the field in Philadelphia. He missed most of the 2018 season with a knee injury, but returned to make 76 tackles with two interceptions and two forced fumbles in 2019. Toward the end of last season, McLeod was selected the Eagles’ nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, but tore knee ligaments a few days later.

McLeod returned to the lineup after this season’s first month and Saturday delivered his biggest performance of the season. Following a lackluster first half that was tied 3-3. McLeod made his first interception of the season on the second play of the third quarter and returned the ball to the Giants’ 21-yard line, starting a string of four consecutive possessions in which the Eagles scored.

“It took a lot of hard work to put us back in this position that we are in today,” McLeod said. “But it’s far from over. All we can do is just take one step at a time. That’s been our mindset as we’ve been in this playoff mode. We do that and we’ll end up where we need to be.”