Houshmandzadeh AFC offensive player of week

As he continues to carve out his own identity as a respected receiver, out of the shadow of college and pro teammate Chad Johnson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh was today named the AFC Offensive Player of the Week by the NFL.

From the Bengals PR department:

In his first game action since suffering a heel bruise in the third preseason game, Houshmandzadeh returned to the field in Cincinnati’s 28-20 victory at Pittsburgh on Sunday. He recorded a game-high nine receptions for 94 yards against the defending Super Bowl champions, including two clutch touchdown catches.

Pittsburgh led 17-14 midway through the fourth quarter and appeared in control until Cincinnati recovered a muffed punt return. Houshmandzadeh caught a nine-yard touchdown pass from QB Carson Palmer on following play to give the Bengals the lead. Then, on Cincinnati’s next offensive play after the team recovered a Pittsburgh fumble, Houshmandzadeh made a impressive, leaping 30-yard touchdown catch to put the Bengals in control on their way to the win. He leaped over CB Deshea Townsend on the pass from Palmer, tipped the ball to himself and made the catch as he landed on his back.

This is the first Player of the Week award for Houshmandzadeh, a sixth-year player. He was the Bengals’ seventh-round draft pick in 2001 out of Oregon State.

It is the first Player of the Week award for Cincinnati in 2006. The last Bengal to earn AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors was Palmer in Week 13 of 2004 for his performance in Cincinnati’s 27-26 victory at Baltimore.

Though no Player of the Week award was given to an offensive Bengals player last season, three of the awards did make their way to Cincinnati in 2005 — two on defense and one on special teams. AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors were given to CB Deltha O’Neal (Week 2; 37-8 win vs. Minnesota) and LB Brian Simmons (Week 9; 21-9 win at Baltimore), while WR/KOR Tab Perry earned the special teams distinction (Week 13; 38-31 win at Pittsburgh).

Also in 2005, Palmer was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Month for September, and LB Odell Thurman was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month for September.