Ja’Marr Chase, Joe Mixon and Evan McPherson earn weekly honors

The Cincinnati Bengals are racking up the weekly NFL awards following their overtime win over the Minnesota Vikings.

First, rookie kicker Evan McPherson was named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week.

Next, veteran running back Joe Mixon was named the FedEx Ground Player of The Week and made the PFF Team of the Week.

Finally, rookie wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase has been named the Pepsi Zero Sugar NFL Rookie of the Week.

All of these honors were well deserved, but McPherson, a fifth-round rookie by way of the Florida Gators, probably had the best claim to his award after hitting the game-winning field goal in OT to take down Minnesota. He became the youngest kicker in NFL history to kick a game-winner in OT. McPherson also hit all three of his extra points, as well as a 53-yard field goal in regulation.

Mixon, now in his fifth NFL season, finished with 129 rushing yards on 29 carries and a touchdown. He also had four receptions for 23 yards. The rushing total was the highest of any player across the league in Week 1. This is Mixon’s second Ground Player of the Week honor after getting his first in 2020 with his Week 4 performance vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Chase, the No. 5 overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft by way of the LSU Tigers, racked up 101 receiving yards against Minnesota, making him the youngest Bengal ever to hit 100 receiving yards in a game. The 21-year-old receiver also caught a 50-yard touchdown from former LSU teammate Joe Burrow, becoming the third-youngest Bengal ever to score a touchdown.

Up next, the Bengals will look to keep the good vibes going at Soldier Field this Sunday when they take on Andy Dalton and the Chicago Bears.

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