Jan 05, 2022

Bengals rookie WR Ja’Marr Chase today was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week for Week 17 for his performance in Cincinnati’s 34-31 win over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium. The victory clinched the AFC North division title for Cincinnati.

Chase on Sunday had 11 catches for 266 receiving yards and three TDs (72, 18 and 69 yards). His receiving yardage total was a Bengals single-game record, an NFL rookie record, and the highest in the NFL this season. Chase’s 1429 receiving yards this season are second-most in Bengals history, and most by an NFL rookie in the Super Bowl era (since 1966).

This is Chase’s third weekly and/or monthly award this season. He was NFL Rookie of the Month for September, and AFC Offensive Player of the Week in Week 7. The latter came after he posted 201 receiving yards and a TD in Cincinnati’s 41-17 win at Baltimore on Oct. 24. Chase now stands as the first rookie ever and the fifth player in the Super Bowl era to record multiple games with at least 200 receiving yards in a single season. The others are Pro Football Hall of Famers Calvin Johnson (2011 and ’12) and Don Maynard (1968), along with Josh Gordon (’13) and Alshon Jeffrey (’13).

Bengals players now have combined to win nine weekly and/or monthly awards this season. AFC players of the week have included QB Joe Burrow (Weeks 4 and 16, offense), Chase (Weeks 7 and 17, offense), K Evan McPherson (Weeks 1 and 11, special teams), and HB Joe Mixon (Week 12, offense). Chase also won NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month for September, and McPherson won AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for December.

COURTESY BENGALS COMMUNICATIONS