Across The Shield: Baron Browning Has A Breakout Game, Malik Hooker and Vonn Bell Make Interceptions and a Bunch of Buckeyes Get Banged Up

By Dan Hope on October 11, 2022 at 10:10 am
Baron Browning celebrates his sack with Bradley Chubb
Isaiah J. Downing – USA TODAY Sports
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Since Pro Football Focus began tracking advanced statistics for NFL players in 2006, no pass-rusher has ever had more pressures per snap in a single game than Baron Browning did against the Indianapolis Colts in the opening game of Week 5 of the 2022 NFL season.

Browning had never even recorded a sack in an NFL regular-season game before Thursday, but his dominant performance in the national spotlight on Thursday Night Football makes him the top performer of the week among former Ohio State players in the league and the first player we’re highlighting in this week’s edition of Across The Shield.

Pro Buck of the Week: Browning dominates as pass-rusher

Browning made his first sack as an NFL player late in the first half of the Broncos’ game against the Colts when he went untouched on an explosive inside rush and took down Colts quarterback Matt Ryan in the backfield.

Later, in the fourth quarter, Browning split another sack with fellow Broncos edge rusher Bradley Chubb.

Throughout the game, Browning was officially credited with 1.5 sacks and a whopping six quarterback hits, one of which caused Ryan to throw an interception. Against an injury-riddled Colts offensive line, Browning – who played primarily as an inside linebacker at Ohio State but was moved to edge rusher by the Broncos this offseason – consistently blew by his opponents, particularly when he was matched up with Colts right tackle Matt Pryor.

According to Pro Football Focus, Browning pressured the quarterback on 10 of his 20 pass-rushing snaps and beat his blocker on 12 of his 20 pass-rushing snaps, good for a 50% pressure rate and 60% win rate that both rank as the best figures PFF has ever recorded for an NFL player who had at least 20 pass-rushing snaps in an NFL game.

Browning also made a tackle for loss against the run when he buried Colts running back Phillip Lindsay in the backfield for a 2-yard loss.

That was Browning’s final play in the game, as he injured his wrist on the tackle. After the game, he told NFL Network’s James Palmer that he was fine, and Broncos coach Nathaniel Hackett said Friday that Browning is “day-to-day” with a wrist sprain.

Hooker helps seal win with pick

After an injury-plagued start to his NFL career with the Colts, former Ohio State safety Malik Hooker has been playing some of his best football as a pro this season with the Dallas Cowboys, which continued in their 22-10 win over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.

With his team already up 12 and less than four minutes to play, Hooker sealed a victory with his first interception of the season.

Hooker received his highest Pro Football Focus grade of the season for his play in the Cowboys’ win and now has the third-highest PFF grade (80.4) in the NFL this season among safeties who have played at least 200 snaps.

Bell’s third INT in two weeks

After recording only two interceptions in his first 96 regular-season games as an NFL player, Vonn Bell has now recorded three interceptions in his last two games.

One week after earning our Pro Buck of the Week award with two interceptions in the Cincinnati Bengals’ win over the Miami Dolphins, Bell made another one in the Bengals’ loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday night.

Bell also recorded seven tackles for the Bengals in the loss.

He was on the wrong end, though, of a truck stick by former Ohio State running back J.K. Dobbins.

Dobbins, who had eight carries for 44 yards for the game, also ran through former Ohio State teammate Sam Hubbard on a 12-yard rush.

Banged-up Buckeyes

While numerous notable players on the current Ohio State football team have dealt with injuries during the first half of the 2022 season, the same was true for many of Ohio State’s former stars during Week 5 in the NFL.

Chris Olave scored the lone touchdown of the week among NFL Buckeyes when he caught his second touchdown pass in as many weeks for the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, but he suffered a concussion on the same play when his head hit the turf in the process of making the 16-yard catch.

Two weeks after his older brother Joey suffered a groin injury that is expected to sideline him for 8-10 weeks, Nick Bosa suffered a groin injury of his own in the San Francisco 49ers’ win over the Carolina Panthers. The younger Bosa’s injury was described after the game as groin tightness, but 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday that Bosa “wasn’t feeling great” and he wouldn’t have been able to practice if the 49ers had practiced Monday.

Denzel Ward left the Cleveland Browns’ loss to the Los Angeles Chargers with a concussion, while fellow former Ohio State cornerback Marshon Lattimore left the Saints’ win over the Seattle Seahawks with an abdominal injury. Jeff Okudah also missed part of the Detroit Lions’ 29-0 loss to the New England Patriots with an undisclosed injury, though he was ultimately able to return to the game.

The Rams placed Jordan Fuller on injured reserve last week due to a hamstring injury, which means he will be sidelined for at least three more weeks. Jake McQuaide, who had never missed a game in his NFL career until this week, was placed on injured reserve by the Cowboys last week with a torn triceps, which is expected to sideline him for the remainder of the 2022 season.

Other former Buckeyes who were inactive in Week 5 due to injuries included Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas, who has missed two straight games with a foot injury. Colts defensive end Tyquan Lewis was sidelined by a concussion, while Broncos outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper missed his third consecutive game with a hamstring injury.

Fields has best game of year

For the first time in five games this season, Justin Fields topped 200 passing yards for the Chicago Bears on Sunday.

The second-year NFL quarterback from Ohio State completed 15 of 21 passing attempts for 208 yards and a touchdown while also running the ball eight times for 47 yards in the Bears’ 29-22 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

After a rough start to his sophomore season, Fields’ completion percentage (71.4), yards per passing attempt (9.9) and passer rating (118.8) were all his best so far in 2022. He led the Bears back from a 21-3 deficit to take a 22-21 fourth-quarter lead before they ultimately lost as he completed 12 of his 13 second-half passing attempts for 135 yards and a touchdown.

He also ran for what would have been a 53-yard touchdown if not for an illegal block in the back penalty against Bears wide receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette.

Quick hits

  • Raekwon McMillan made his biggest play so far as a Patriot when he blew up a 4th-and-1 run in the backfield for a tackle for loss and a turnover on downs.
  • Ward also made a fourth-down stop with a first-quarter breakup on a pass intended for Mike Williams on 4th-and-2. However, Williams would go on to catch 10 passes for 134 yards, and three of those catches for 75 yards came against Ward, according to PFF.
  • Jerome Baker recorded his first solo sack of the season in the Miami Dolphins’ loss to the New York Jets.
  • Pete Werner recorded his second forced fumble of the year, which set up the touchdown pass to his former Ohio State teammate Olave. Werner also remains the league leader in solo tackles with 37 this season.
  • Billy Price was active for his first game with the Arizona Cardinals after he was signed by the team last Tuesday, but he did not play any snaps.

Full stats for every Buckeye who played in Week 5 of the NFL season and for the season as a whole to date, as compiled by Eleven Warriors’ Matt Gutridge, can be found below.

Buckeyes Around the NFL
PLAYER POSITION TEAM WEEK 5 STATS SEASON STATS
ELI APPLE CB BENGALS 3 tackles 13 tackles, 1 PBU
JEROME BAKER LB DOLPHINS 4 tackles, 1 sack (6 yards), 1 TFL, 1 QB hit, 1 PBU 32 tackles, 1.5 sack (6.5 yards), 2 TFL, 2 QB hit, 2 PBU
VONN BELL S BENGALS 7 tackles, 1 INT, 1 PBU 29 tackles, 3 TFL, 1 QB hit, 3 INT, 4 PBU, 1 FF
JOEY BOSA DE CHARGERS Injured reserve (groin) 7 tackles, 1.5 sacks (12.5 yards), 2 TFL, 4 QB hits, 1 FF
NICK BOSA DE 49ERS 1 tackle 15 tackles, 6 sacks (41 yards), 6 TFL, 16 QB hits
NOAH BROWN WR COWBOYS 1 catch, 5 yards 19 catches, 279 yards, 1 TD
BARON BROWNING OLB BRONCOS 5 tackles, 1.5 sacks (13.5 yards), 2 TFL, 6 QB hits 8 tackles, 1.5 sacks (13.5 yards), 3 TFL, 6 QB hits
PARRIS CAMPBELL WR COLTS 2 catches, 22 yards 11 catches, 112 yards
JONATHON COOPER OLB BRONCOS Inactive 1 tackle
WYATT DAVIS OG SAINTS Played at OG 1 game played
TAYLOR DECKER OT LIONS Started at LT 5 starts at LT
J.K. DOBBINS RB RAVENS 8 carries, 44 yards 28 carries, 108 yards, 1 TD; 6 catches, 58 yards, 1 TD
PAT ELFLEIN C PANTHERS Started at C 5 starts at C
EZEKIEL ELLIOTT RB COWBOYS 22 carries, 78 yards 81 carries, 305 yards; 5 catches, 27 yards
LUKE FARRELL TE JAGUARS Played at TE 5 games played
JUSTIN FIELDS QB BEARS 15/21 passing, 208 yards, 1 TD; 8 carries, 47 yards 49/88 passing, 679 yards, 3 TD, 4 INT; 42 carries, 194 yards, 1 TD
JORDAN FULLER S RAMS Injured reserve (hamstring) 10 tackles, 1 FF
DaVON HAMILTON DT JAGUARS 2 tackles, 1 QB hit 10 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 QB hit
JOHNATHAN HANKINS DT RAIDERS Inactive 8 tackles, 1 QB hit, 1 PBU
MALIK HARRISON LB RAVENS 4 tackles 12 tackles
CAMERON HEYWARD DT STEELERS 5 tackles, 1 PBU, 1 FF 22 tackles, 1 sack (5 yards), 2 TFL, 3 QB hits, 2 PBU, 1 FF, 1 FR
MALIK HOOKER S COWBOYS 2 tackles, 1 INT, 1 PBU 22 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 INT, 1 PBU
SAM HUBBARD DE BENGALS 4 tackles 14 tackles, 1 sack (5 yards), 4 TFL, 8 QB hits, 1 PBU
JONAH JACKSON OG LIONS Started at LG 2 starts at G
CAMERON JOHNSTON P TEXANS 6 punts, 48.8 average, 3 inside 20 26 punts, 49.1 average, 14 inside 20
DRE’MONT JONES DE BRONCOS 1 tackle, 0.5 sack (9 yards) 14 tackles, 2.5 sacks (23 yards), 3 TFL, 1 QB hit, 1 FF
JAMARCO JONES OG TITANS Injured reserve (triceps) Has not played
MICHAEL JORDAN OG PANTHERS Played on special teams 5 games played
MARSHON LATTIMORE CB SAINTS 1 PBU 15 tackles, 2 PBU
TYQUAN LEWIS DE COLTS Inactive 6 tackles, 1 QB hit, 1 PBU
COREY LINSLEY C CHARGERS Started at C 4 starts at C
LIAM McCULLOUGH LS FALCONS Played at LS 5 games played
TERRY McLAURIN WR COMMANDERS 5 catches, 76 yards 19 catches, 326 yards, 1 TD; 1 rush, 7 yards
RAEKWON McMILLAN LB PATRIOTS 3 tackles, 1 TFL 8 tackles, 1 TFL
JAKE McQUAIDE LS COWBOYS Injured reserve (triceps) 4 games played
THAYER MUNFORD OT RAIDERS Started as 6th OL, played at RT 2 starts, 5 games played
JOSH MYERS C PACKERS Started at C 5 starts at C
ANDREW NORWELL OG COMMANDERS Started at LG 5 starts at LG
JEFF OKUDAH CB LIONS 1 tackle 24 tackles, 3 PBU
CHRIS OLAVE WR SAINTS 4 catches, 54 yards, 1 TD 25 catches, 389 yards, 2 TD; 2-point conversion
NICHOLAS PETIT-FRERE OT TITANS Started at RT 5 starts at RT
BILLY PRICE OL CARDINALS Did not play Has not played
BRADLEY ROBY CB SAINTS 1 tackle 17 tackles, 1 TFL, 2 PBU, 1 FR
JEREMY RUCKERT TE JETS Played at TE 4 games played
CURTIS SAMUEL WR COMMANDERS 6 catches, 62 yards 32 catches, 281 yards, 2 TD; 5 carries, 38 yards
TREY SERMON RB EAGLES Played at RB 2 carries, 19 yards
MICHAEL THOMAS WR SAINTS Inactive 16 catches, 171 yards, 3 TD
TOMMY TOGIAI DT BROWNS 1 tackle 3 tackles, 0.5 sack (4.5 yards), 1 QB hit
NICK VANNETT TE SAINTS Inactive 1 catch, 5 yards
SHAUN WADE CB PATRIOTS Inactive Has not played
DENZEL WARD CB BROWNS 10 tackles, 1 PBU 20 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 INT, 5 PBU, 1 FR, 1 TD
PETE WERNER LB SAINTS 7 tackles, 1 FF 48 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 PBU, 2 FF
GARRETT WILSON WR JETS 3 catches, 27 yards 23 catches, 282 yards, 2 TD; 1 rush, -2 yards
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