Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt and Cincinnati Bengals kicker Evan McPherson have been named the AFC Players of the Week following standout performances during Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season.
Walker earned AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors, Watt was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week and McPherson took home AFC Special Teams Player of the Week.
Kenneth Walker Powers Chiefs Offense
Walker made an immediate impact for Kansas City, leading the NFL with 191 scrimmage yards in the Chiefs’ 31-10 victory over the Denver Broncos.
The running back rushed for 173 yards and added 18 receiving yards while scoring twice — once on the ground and once through the air.
His performance placed Walker among only six running backs in NFL history to record at least 190 scrimmage yards along with both a rushing and receiving touchdown in a Week 1 game.
It marked the second Player of the Week award of Walker’s career and his first since joining Kansas City. He previously earned the honor with the Seattle Seahawks in Week 3 of the 2023 season.
Walker also became one of seven running backs in Chiefs history to earn a Player of the Week award and the first Kansas City running back to accomplish the feat in a season opener.
The former Michigan State standout joined Kirk Cousins, Le’Veon Bell, Andre Rison and Lorenzo White as former Spartans to earn multiple Offensive Player of the Week awards.
T.J. Watt Makes NFL History
Watt opened his 2026 season with another dominant defensive performance.
The Pittsburgh linebacker recorded four tackles, three tackles for loss and two sacks while returning an interception 35 yards for a touchdown in the Steelers’ 20-13 victory over the Atlanta Falcons.
Watt became the first NFL player in 20 years to record multiple sacks and an interception return for a touchdown on Kickoff Weekend. Joey Porter was the last to accomplish the feat in 2006.
The performance also moved Watt into rare historical company. With 117 career sacks and 10 interceptions, he joined Hall of Famer Julius Peppers as the only players with at least 100 sacks and 10 interceptions since individual sacks became an official NFL statistic in 1982.
Watt’s AFC Defensive Player of the Week honor was the ninth of his career, tying Hall of Famers Chris Doleman, Bruce Smith and Lawrence Taylor for the most such awards in NFL history.
Watt previously earned the honor twice in 2018, once in 2020, three times in 2021 and once each in 2023 and 2024.
Evan McPherson Delivers for Cincinnati
McPherson was perfect in Cincinnati’s 33-27 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Bengals kicker converted all four of his field-goal attempts from 20, 55, 58 and 32 yards while also making all three extra-point attempts. His 15 total points were the most scored by an NFL kicker during Week 1.
McPherson was also the only player to convert two field goals from at least 55 yards during the opening week of the season.
The performance earned McPherson the fifth AFC Special Teams Player of the Week award of his career, moving him past Doug Pelfrey for the most by a kicker in Bengals history.
McPherson previously received the award twice during his rookie season in 2021 and once each in 2022 and 2025.
His five career Special Teams Player of the Week honors are also the most by any former Florida kicker. Since 2021, only Cameron Dicker, with six, has earned the award more often among NFL kickers, while Jake Elliott has also won five.
Source: NFL
Photo: Wikipedia Commons
