Following his three-turnover performance against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch was named the NFC’s Defensive Player of the Week for Week 6.

Branch, who missed the team’s Week 4 victory against the Seattle Seahawks, had two interceptions and a forced fumble in a 47-9 victory as Detroit’s defense held the Cowboys without a touchdown.

“He means a ton to us. … What you see is what you get,” Lions head coach Dan Campbell said. “He’s a highly productive player. He is the ultimate football player. He’s a football player. He gets it. He sees it.”

Branch, who slid to the second round in the 2023 NFL Draft before Detroit scooped him up with the No. 45 pick, is in his first season at full-time safety after playing most of his rookie season at the nickel-corner position. So far, the results have been excellent: He’s been targeted 17 times in coverage and turned it into three interceptions with five additional pass breakups while allowing an opposing passer rating of 45.1.

Branch intercepted Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott on a throw to CeeDee Lamb in the end zone and then picked him off over the middle of the field before nearly returning it for a pick-six; he was downed inside the 5-yard line. Branch also had an interception in Week 2 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

“The safety position in our defense is perfect for him, because it allows him to roam and he’s got some freedom,” Campbell said. “It’s structured, but he’s got some freedom to be able to move a little bit and play ball. And man, you just see the sky’s the limit with him and Kerby (Joseph) back there. Those two playing together, they’re really beginning to grow. So he’s big for us.”

Joseph has also had an excellent start to the season. He had an interception on Sunday, bringing his total on the season to four, which already ties his most in a single season. Joseph has been targeted 13 times, allowing five receptions for 49 yards.