Brock Bowers wins AFC Offensive Player of the Week as Powers-Johnson sits out

Brock Bowers missed the first two weeks of the season, played one game, and walked off with hardware. The NFL named the tight end AFC Offensive Player of the Week on Wednesday for his 10-catch, 116-yard, one-touchdown return in Sunday's 35-27 win at New Orleans. It is the first conference weekly award of his career, which tells you more about award voters than about Bowers.

The ledger behind it is absurd. Per the team, that was his fifth 100-yard game, tying Rob Gronkowski for the fourth-most by a tight end in his first 30 games, and his sixth game with 10 or more catches, second in franchise history behind Tim Brown's 13. He also passed Kellen Winslow Sr. for the second-most receiving yards by a tight end through 30 career games. Only Mike Ditka is ahead. "Brock's always been a guy we count on," Klint Kubiak said. "To come off an injury and to play the way he did was very, very impressive, and we needed it."

The cost side showed up a few hours later. The Wednesday injury report had guard Jackson Powers-Johnson not practicing with a groin injury he picked up late in New Orleans, with Caleb Rogers taking his snaps, as Silver and Black Pride noted. Safety Treydan Stukes was back to full participation after clearing a concussion. Aidan O'Connell was again absent for personal reasons. Ashton Jeanty practiced fully with the ankle.

Kansas City arrives 3-0 as well and short a left tackle. Andy Reid said Josh Simmons "has had a bulging disk in his lower back, and it has kind of hindered the strength of his leg," per Yahoo Sports, with rookie Kahlil Benson filling in. Cornerback L'Jarius Sneed was limited with a knee. Patrick Mahomes, listed with a knee, practiced fully.

Las Vegas also signed running back Owen Wright to the practice squad, a depth note rather than a plan.

Opinion, clearly labelled: an interior line missing its best guard against Chris Jones is the single worst trade this roster could make this week. Kickoff is Sunday at 1:25 p.m. on CBS, and the Friday designations will say whether Powers-Johnson is a real absence or a Wednesday rest day dressed up as one.