Deshaun Watson: Houston Texans QB named AFC Offensive Player of the Week

Oct. 4 (UPI) -- Rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson has been named the AFC Offensive Player of the Week.

The NFL announced the honor on Wednesday.

Watson is the only rookie in NFL history to throw for seven or more passing scores and two or more rushing scores in his team's first four games of the season.

In Sunday's 57-14 victory against the Tennessee Titans, Watson completed 25-of-34 passes for 283 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. He also had a rushing score and posted a passer rating of 125.0.

His five total touchdowns in the game were the second-most ever scored by a rookie in one game. Gale Sayers scored six touchdowns in one game during the 1965 season. The five scores are tied for the most touchdowns scored in a game by a rookie quarterback.

Watson and Fran Tarkenton are the only rookie quarterbacks to ever throw for at least 250 yards, four touchdowns and have a rushing touchdown in a single game.

"I knew pretty early on that this guy was a special young man and a good football player," Texans coach Bill O'Bren told reporters Monday. "Look, I'm not going to revisit anything, I'm just telling you from the time I met him at the combine, just getting to know him here, watching him operate around here, he is what you see. Now, he's got a long way to go. He does."

"Because now he's going from coach [Bill] Belichick to coach [Dick] LeBeau to Bob Sutton, coach Sutton. Those are three of the better defensive minds in football. So now, it's another challenge. Every week's a different challenge. He knows better than anybody, he's really good about this I believe, is that you can't rest on your laurels."

Watson, 22, has progressively posted a higher completion percentage of his passes and had a better quarterback rating in each of his games this season.

"I just play free," Watson told reporters last week. "I play fast, I play like I've always been playing my whole career, my life. That's just making plays with feet if I need to, being a quarterback, standing in the pocket, making the passes to my receivers. The only difference is protecting myself."

"In college I can run over some linebackers and some DBs but at this level these are grown men so you always want to take the less hits and try not to take any hits, because the less hits you take, maybe the longer your career can be."

The Texans host the Kansas City Chiefs at 8:30 p.m. Sunday at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. Kansas City is the only undefeated team in football. The Chiefs have allowed the sixth-most passing yards and second-most rushing yards to opposing quarterbacks this season.