Vikings Linebacker Kendricks Named Rookie Of The Month

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota Vikings linebacker Eric Kendricks has been named the NFL's defensive rookie of the month for October.

The award was announced Thursday by the league. The second-round draft pick from UCLA became the first Vikings player to win one of the NFL's monthly rookie honors since Cordarrelle Patterson in 2013 and just the second since Percy Harvin in 2009.

Kendricks took over as the full-time middle linebacker in October and totaled four sacks and five quarterback hits in three games. Kendricks leads the Vikings with six tackles for loss.

The Vikings are at Chicago this Sunday for a divisional battle with the Bears.  It's a noon kickoff.