Hezekiah Masses Named AFC Defensive Player of the Week
The Las Vegas Raiders rookie earned the honor following his standout performance in his first NFL start.
Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Football
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Las Vegas Raiders rookie Hezekiah Masses earned AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors following his debut start. The fifth-round draft pick recorded five tackles and two interceptions against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Why it matters
The award recognizes the impact of Masses, who stepped into the starting lineup after an injury sidelined teammate Darien Porter. His performance during Week 3 highlights the depth of the Las Vegas defensive roster.
Masses recorded five total tackles, including one tackle for loss, alongside two passes defended and two interceptions in his initial start. This stat line was produced against the Los Angeles Chargers during Week 3 of the regular season.
The players
Hezekiah Masses
He is a rookie defensive back and fifth-round draft pick for the Las Vegas Raiders.
Darien Porter
He is a defensive back for the Las Vegas Raiders who missed time due to an injury.
Las Vegas Raiders
The professional football team based in Las Vegas competes in the AFC West division of the NFL.
Los Angeles Chargers
The professional football team based in California competes in the AFC West division of the NFL.
The details
Hezekiah Masses received the starting nod after Darien Porter was sidelined by an injury. The NFL evaluated performances from Week 3 matchups to select the defensive standout.
Timeline
Darien Porter started as the defensive back during Week 1.
Darien Porter was sidelined due to injury during Week 2.
Hezekiah Masses was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week in September 2026.
Season Trajectory
This accolade signals that Masses may challenge for a permanent role in the defensive backfield for the remainder of the season. His breakout performance alters the competitive balance of the Raiders' secondary and influences future roster decisions.
Fantasy managers should note the emergence of Masses as a high-value defensive asset following his two-interception performance. His increased playing time directly impacts the Raiders' defensive rotation for upcoming matchups.
The takeaway
The rapid ascent of a fifth-round rookie serves as a reminder of the volatility and opportunity within NFL depth charts. Developing depth players often provides the necessary coverage during key injury stretches.
Further reading
For more on the team's roster moves, visit the Las Vegas Football section.
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