NEW YORK – Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker, Buffalo Bills linebacker Greg Rousseau and Cincinnati Bengals kicker Evan McPherson are the AFC Players of the Month for September (Weeks 1-3).
OFFENSE: RB KENNETH WALKER, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
- Walker totaled 442 scrimmage yards (360 rushing, 82 receiving) and four touchdowns (two rushing, two receiving) in September and became the first player in NFL history with a rushing touchdown and a receiving touchdown in two of his first three games with a team. Walker also became the fifth player ever with at least 175 scrimmage yards in each of his first two games of a season, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Jim Brown (1963 with Cleveland) and O.J. Simpson (1975 with Buffalo) as well as Paul Hofer (1980 with San Francisco) and Billy Sims (1980 with Detroit).
- This is Walker’s first-career Player of the Month award, becoming the third Chiefs running back to win the award in 20 seasons, joining Kareem Hunt (September, 2017) and Jerrick McKinnon (December, 2022).
- Walker becomes the third-ever former Michigan State running back to win the award, joining Le’Veon Bell (two-time winner) and Lorenzo White (December, 1992).
DEFENSE: LB GREG ROUSSEAU, BUFFALO BILLS
- Rousseau recorded 15 tackles, eight tackles for loss, six sacks and three forced fumbles in September. He became the third player since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic, with two-or-more sacks in each of his team’s first three games of a season, joining Mark Gastineau (1984 with the New York Jets) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Kevin Greene (1998 with Carolina).
- This is Rousseau’s first-career Defensive Player of the Month award, becoming the fifth Bills linebacker to earn the honor, joining Lorenzo Alexander (October, 2016), Cornelius Bennett (October, 1988), Sam Cowart (November, 2000) and Bryce Paup (November, 1995).
- Rousseau becomes the fourth former University of Miami (Fla.) linebacker to win Defensive Player of the Month, joining Jessie Armstead (October, 1999), Jon Beason (October, 2008) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Ray Lewis (November, 2003).
SPECIAL TEAMS: K EVAN MCPHERSON, CINCINNATI BENGALS
- McPherson converted on all eight of his field goal attempts, including five from at least 50 yards, as well as all eight of his point after attempts for a total of 32 points in the month of September. His five field goal conversions from 50-or-more yards are the most this season.
- This is McPherson’s second-career Special Teams Player of the Month award, becoming the first Bengals player to win the award multiple times.
- McPherson becomes the only former University of Florida player to win Special Teams Player of the Month multiple times.
