Kenneth Walker, Greg Rousseau and Evan McPherson Earn September AFC Honors
The AFC has its first monthly award winners of the 2026 season, with three players turning strong September performances into some new hardware.
Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker, Buffalo Bills linebacker Greg Rousseau and Cincinnati Bengals kicker Evan McPherson were named the AFC Players of the Month for September, covering Weeks 1-3.
Walker Makes Chiefs History
Walker put together a monster start to the season, totaling 442 scrimmage yards through three games. The Chiefs running back recorded 360 rushing yards, 82 receiving yards and four touchdowns, with two scores coming on the ground and two through the air.
He also made NFL history by becoming the first player to record both a rushing touchdown and a receiving touchdown in two of his first three games with a team.
Walker was also one of just five players in NFL history to record at least 175 scrimmage yards in each of his first two games of a season. The group includes Pro Football Hall of Famers Jim Brown and O.J. Simpson, along with Paul Hofer and Billy Sims.
The award marks the first Player of the Month honor of Walker's career. He becomes the third Chiefs running back to earn the award in the past 20 seasons, joining Kareem Hunt and Jerrick McKinnon.
Walker is also the third former Michigan State running back to win the honor, following Le'Veon Bell and Lorenzo White.
Rousseau Dominates for Buffalo
Rousseau was a problem for opposing offenses throughout September, finishing the month with 15 tackles, eight tackles for loss, six sacks and three forced fumbles.
His sack production put him in rare company. Rousseau became just the third player since sacks became an official statistic in 1982 to record at least two sacks in each of his team's first three games of a season. Mark Gastineau and Pro Football Hall of Famer Kevin Greene are the only other players listed in that group.
The September honor is Rousseau's first career Defensive Player of the Month award, making him the fifth Bills linebacker to receive the recognition. He joins Lorenzo Alexander, Cornelius Bennett, Sam Cowart and Bryce Paup.
Rousseau also becomes the fourth former University of Miami linebacker to win Defensive Player of the Month, joining Jessie Armstead, Jon Beason and Pro Football Hall of Famer Ray Lewis.
McPherson Stays Perfect From the Field
McPherson was automatic for Cincinnati in September, converting all eight of his field-goal attempts and all eight of his extra-point attempts.
Five of his field goals came from 50 yards or more, the most such conversions in the NFL this season. McPherson finished the month with 32 total points.
The award is McPherson's second career Special Teams Player of the Month honor, making him the first Bengals player to win the award multiple times.
He's also the only former Florida player to earn Special Teams Player of the Month honors multiple times.
Source: NFL Communications.
