NEW YORK – Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren, New York Jets EDGE David Bailey and Buffalo Bills linebacker Greg Rousseau are the AFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played in Week 5 (October 8, 11-12).
OFFENSE: RB JAYLEN WARREN, PITTSBURGH STEELERS
- Warren recorded a career-high 188 scrimmage yards (101 rushing, 87 receiving) and had two scrimmage touchdowns (one rushing, one receiving) in Pittsburgh’s 34-22 win against Indianapolis. His 188 scrimmage yards were the most in the AFC in Week 5. Warren, with an 80-yard touchdown reception and 50-yard touchdown run, became the sixth player in NFL history and first in 40 seasons with a receiving touchdown of 80-or-more yards and a rushing touchdown of 50-or-more yards in the same game, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Jim Brown (Sept. 15, 1963) and Gale Sayers (Dec. 12, 1965) as well as Harmon Wages (Dec. 7, 1969), Herschel Walker (Dec. 14, 1986) and Delvin Williams (Nov. 7, 1976).
- This is Warren’s first Player of the Week Award. He is the first Steelers player to be named Offensive Player of the Week since Ben Roethlisberger (Week 10, 2020) and the first Steelers running back to earn the honor since James Conner (Week 8, 2019).
- Warren becomes the fourth former Oklahoma State running back to win Offensive Player of the Week, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Barry Sanders (11-time winner) and Thurman Thomas (five) as well as Chuba Hubbard (Week 16, 2024).
DEFENSE: EDGE DAVID BAILEY, NEW YORK JETS
- Bailey recorded seven tackles and three sacks in the New York Jets’ 17-12 win against Cleveland. He is the first rookie since Jaelan Phillips (Week 12, 2021) with three sacks and three tackles for loss in a single game. Bailey is the third player in the last 24 seasons (2003-26) to record three sacks in a game within his first five career games, joining Aidan Hutchinson (three sacks on Sept. 18, 2022, with Detroit) and Elvis Dumervil (three sacks on Oct. 22, 2006, with Denver).
- This is Bailey’s first Player of the Week award. He becomes the first Jets player to win Defensive Player of the Week since Jordan Whitehead (Week 1, 2023) and the fourth Jets rookie to earn the honor, joining Russell Carter (Week 15, 1984), Sauce Gardner (Week 7, 2022) and Dee Milliner (Week 17, 2013).
- Bailey is the fifth former Texas Tech player to be named Defensive Player of the Week, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer Zach Thomas (three-time winner), Jordyn Brooks (two), Marcus Coleman (Week 10, 1999) and Curtis Jordan (Week 8, 1985). He joins Byron Hanspard (Week 15, 1997) and Wes Welker (Week 5, 2004) as the only former Texas Tech players to win a Player of the Week award as a rookie.
SPECIAL TEAMS: LB GREG ROUSSEAU, BUFFALO BILLS
- With under five minutes to play in Buffalo’s 37-34 overtime win at the Los Angeles Rams, Rousseau blocked a 48-yard field goal attempt that would have been the game-winning score. The Bills kicked the game-winning field goal five plays later. It marked the first blocked field goal in overtime that led to a win since the 2015 season and the fourth-latest blocked field goal in overtime since 1974.
- This is Rousseau’s third Player of the Week award and first on special teams. He becomes the fourth Bills defensive player to earn the honor and the first since Leodis McKelvin (Week 11, 2012).
- 2021: Week 5 (Defense)
- 2024: Week 1 (Defense)
- 2026: Week 5 (Special Teams)
- Rousseau joins Jesse Armstead (Week 11, 1993) as the only former University of Miami (Fla.) linebackers to win a Special Teams Player of the Week award.
