Dee Milliner ended his rookie year with a flourish. The Jets cornerback was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month for December on Thursday.
Milliner started the month by getting benched for the third time this season, but he ended it with two interceptions Sunday in Miami. All three of his interceptions came in December.
The No. 9 overall pick struggled mightily at times this season, but the coaches trusted him to face the Browns’ Josh Gordon and Miami’s Mike Wallace in the final two games of the season.
Jets coach Rex Ryan consistently praised Milliner and vowed he would be the top rookie cornerback by the end of the year.