'Dre named AFC Offensive Player of the Month

Receiver Andre Johnson led the NFL with a 41 receptions for 593 yards in four games in October.

The NFL announced on Wednesday that wide receiver Andre Johnson was named AFC Offensive Player of the Month for October. This is the first time Johnson has won player of the month honors in his career and it his fourth league award. He was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week in Week 4 of 2006 and earned NFL Rookie of the Week honors in Week 4 and Week 10 in 2003.

The 6-3, 223-pound Johnson led the NFL with a 41 receptions for 593 yards in four games in October. He also scored two touchdowns. His 41 catches were 11 more than the next-closest receiver, and his 593 yards were nearly 150 more than second place. Johnson also led all AFC players in total yards from scrimmage in the month despite not having a single rushing attempt.

"I've been around some very good ones, and right now, he's special," coach Gary Kubiak said. "I mean, he wants the ball - the plays he's making after the catch.

"The month that he's had has been extremely special. And people are trying to do some things to take him away but, we're really moving him around. He's responded to that. He responds to the mental pressure we put on him to get him open."

Johnson's 41 receptions were the second-most in the month of October since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger. Only Buffalo wide receiver Eric Moulds had more catches, with 42, but Moulds played five games in October of 2000 compared to Johnson's four.

Johnson's 593 receiving yards were the fifth-most since 1970 and were surpassed only by St. Louis' Isaac Bruce (650 yards, 1995), Green Bay's James Lofton (606, 1984), Moulds (605, 2000) and Indianapolis' Marvin Harrison (603, 2000).

Johnson caught nine or more passes and had at least 130 receiving yards in all four games in October. He became just the third player in NFL history to catch 10 or more passes in three straight games and the fourth player ever to record 130 or more yards in four consecutive outings.

Johnson opened the month by catching nine passes for 131 yards and a touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts. He keyed the Texans' first win of the season with 10 catches for a franchise-record 178 yards and a touchdown against the Miami Dolphins. The Pro Bowler caught 11 passes for 141 yards in Houston's 28-21 win over the Detroit Lions in Week 7 and wrapped up the month with 10 catches for 148 yards in Houston's 35-6 win over the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 8.

"This guy is the best receiver in the league, and he proves that week in and week out," wide receiver Kevin Walter said. "It starts in practice, too. He comes to work, he practices his tail off and it shows on Sunday. I'm glad he's here."

Johnson becomes the sixth Texans player to earn player of the month honors and the first on the offensive side of the ball. This is the third consecutive season in which the Texans have had at least one player win player of the month honors. Defensive tackle Amobi Okoye earned NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month in September of 2007, and wide receiver André Davis won AFC Special Teams Player of the Month in December of 2007. Finally, linebacker DeMeco Ryans was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month in December of 2006.