Across The Shield: Ezekiel Elliott Goes for 140 Yards, Justin Fields Shines in Bears Win and Jonathon Cooper Makes First NFL Interception

By Dan Hope on December 12, 2023 at 10:10 am
Ezekiel Elliott vs. the Steelers
Charles LeClaire – USA TODAY Sports
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Ezekiel Elliott’s best game in years played a big role in the New England Patriots earned just their third win of the season on Thursday night.

Elliott picked up 140 yards from scrimmage – his most in any game since October 2021 – to account for nearly half of the Patriots’ 303 yards in their 21-18 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. He picked up more than half of those yards on receptions, catching seven passes for 72 yards, the most he’s had in a single game since 2018.

Those seven catches were highlighted by an 11-yard touchdown on the Patriots’ opening drive, Elliott’s first receiving touchdown in his last 30 games.

In addition to all the plays he made with the ball in his hands, Elliott also made a touchdown-saving tackle on an interception by Steelers linebacker Mykal Walker. The Steelers turned the ball over on downs on their subsequent possession, so that tackle ended up making the difference in the game.

In recognition of his best game so far as a Patriot, Elliott earns our Pro Buck of the Week award as Ohio State’s top performer in NFL Week 14.

Pro Bucks of the Week
Week Player Stats
Week 1 Saints CB Marshon Lattimore 1 INT, 3 PBU, 2 tackles
Week 2 Texans QB C.J. Stroud 30-47 passing, 384 yards, 2 TD
Week 3 Saints WR Chris Olave 8 catches, 104 yards
Week 4 Broncos OLB Jonathon Cooper 5 tackles, 1 sack, 2 QB hits, 35-yard fumble return TD
Week 5 Bears QB Justin Fields 15-29 passing, 282 yards, 4 TD; 11 carries, 57 yards
Week 6 Bengals DE Sam Hubbard 7 tackles, 1 sack, 5 QB hits
Week 7 Dolphins LB Jerome Baker 11 tackles, 1 TFL, 22-yard interception return TD
Week 8 Broncos OLB Baron Browning 4 tackles, 3 TFL, 2 sacks, 3 QB hits, 1 FF
Week 9 Texans QB C.J. Stroud 30-42 passing, 470 yards, 5 TD; 10 rushing yards
Week 10 Texans WR Noah Brown 7 catches, 172 yards
Week 11 Alouettes WR Austin Mack 6 catches, 103 yards, 1 TD in Grey Cup win
Week 12 Rams S Jordan Fuller 4 PBU, 3 tackles
Week 13 Saints WR Chris Olave 5 catches, 119 yards
Week 14 Patriots RB Ezekiel Elliott 22 carries, 68 yards; 7 catches, 72 yards, 1 TD; 1 tackle

Fields shines in second straight win

The Chicago Bears have won back-to-back games for the first time all season, and Justin Fields is a big reason why.

Fields led the Bears to their most impressive win of the year in Week 14 as he threw for 223 yards and a touchdown while running for 58 yards and another touchdown in the Bears’ 28-13 win over the NFC North-leading Detroit Lions.

As a passer, Fields’ day was highlighted by a beautiful strike to DJ Moore on 4th-and-13 for a 38-yard touchdown.

As a runner, Fields had three scrambles of more than 10 yards. His longest run of the day came when he eluded multiple pass rushers in the backfield before taking off for a 19-yard gain on 3rd-and-8, while his second rushing touchdown of the season came on an 11-yard scamper to the end zone.

Cumulatively, Fields’ 281 yards of total offense were his third-most of the season.

His 58 rushing yards on Sunday brought Fields over 2,000 rushing yards for his NFL career. As a result, Fields became the second-fastest player in NFL history (behind Lamar Jackson) to reach 5,000 passing yards and 2,000 rushing yards for his career, achieving the two milestones in only 36 games (compared to 33 for Jackson).

Rough day for C.J. ends with concussion

While Fields had one of his best games of the season in Week 14, Ohio State’s other NFL quarterback had his worst.

C.J. Stroud entered the week as the NFL’s leader in passing yards for the 2023 season and had led the Houston Texans to wins in four of their last five games, all of which played a part in Stroud having received the second-most fan votes for the Pro Bowl as of last week. But Stroud wasn’t able to keep the momentum going in the Texans’ 30-6 loss to the New York Jets on Sunday.

Stroud completed just 10 of his 23 passing attempts for 91 yards, and his bad day got worse when he had his head slammed against the turf in the fourth quarter. Stroud was placed in concussion protocol and did not return to the game.

Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said Monday that Stroud was diagnosed with a concussion and that he will be evaluated throughout the week to determine whether he can return to action against the Tennessee Titans in Week 15.

Wilson, Ruckert have big days for Jets

On the other end of that game, it was a much better day for the New York Jets’ two former Buckeye pass catchers as Garrett Wilson and Jeremy Ruckert both had their most productive games of the season.

Wilson caught nine passes for a season-high 108 yards to lead the Jets in receiving while Ruckert caught three passes for a career-high 37 yards.

Ruckert’s day was highlighted by an impressive second-effort catch on which he dove to catch an 11-yard throw from Zach Wilson and tipped the ball to himself before securing possession.

It was a record-setting day for Garrett Wilson as he now holds the Jets’ franchise records for receptions (159) and receiving yards (1,956) in a player’s first two NFL seasons.

Browning helps Cooper make first interception

Jonathon Cooper made his first interception since he was in high school with an assist from a fellow Buckeye.

With Justin Herbert backed up near his own end zone, Baron Browning tipped the Los Angeles Chargers quarterback’s pass attempt. Cooper alertly reached his hands out to pick off the pass at the 7-yard line. His pick-six attempt was thwarted by Chargers left tackle Rashawn Slater, but his interception set up a Denver Broncos touchdown on the very next play, their first points of an eventual 24-7 win.

Cooper had never previously intercepted a pass in an NFL game, nor did he have any interceptions during his Ohio State career.

Hooker makes two big plays on Sunday night

Malik Hooker has been known for his ability to make plays on the ball since his All-American final season at Ohio State, and he showed that ability again during the Dallas Cowboys’ Sunday night win over the Philadelphia Eagles.

On the first play of the second quarter, Hooker made an excellent pass breakup to knock the ball out of the hands of Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith to prevent a first down on a 3rd-and-2 downfield pass.

Later in the game, Hooker made the fourth fumble recovery of his career after combining with Cowboys teammate Markquese Bell on a tackle on which Bell knocked the ball out of Smith’s hands.

Werner snags a takeaway

Cooper wasn’t the only former Ohio State defender to come up with a takeaway in Week 14. Pete Werner got one of his own when he plucked a ball out of the air that had been knocked out of Bryce Young’s hands in the New Orleans Saints’ Sunday afternoon contest with the Carolina Panthers.

The play was initially ruled as an interception – which would have been his second of the season – but was ultimately changed to his second fumble recovery of the season.

New Orleans ultimately earned a 28-6 win over the Panthers. Chris Olave scored his fourth touchdown of the season on a 7-yard catch in the fourth quarter.

Sack report

Nick Bosa, who currently leads all NFC defensive ends in Pro Bowl votes, had his fourth multi-sack game in the last five weeks – all since Chase Young joined him in San Francisco – as he recorded 1.5 sacks in the 49ers’ 28-16 win over the Seattle Seahawks.

Bosa finished the game with six total tackles, including another tackle for loss, and recorded his third pass deflection of the season.

It didn’t officially count in the box score, but Young also came up with a key sack and forced fumble – with Bosa bringing pressure from the other side – on a two-point conversion attempt by the Seahawks.

Young also hit Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock to force the game-sealing interception by 49ers linebacker Fred Warner.

Cameron Heyward recorded his second sack of the season while tying his season-high with six tackles in the Steelers’ Thursday night loss to the Patriots.

Dawand undergoes season-ending knee surgery

A promising rookie season for Dawand Jones has officially come to an end.

The former Ohio State right tackle will undergo season-ending surgery for a knee injury, Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday. Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot reported that Jones suffered a torn MCL.

Before the injury, Jones had been one of the top rookie offensive linemen in the NFL despite falling to the fourth round of the 2023 NFL draft. In nine starts before his injury, Jones allowed only three sacks, according to Pro Football Focus.

Quick Hits

  • Johnathan Hankins suffered an ankle injury in the third quarter of the Cowboys’ win over the Eagles and did not return. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Hankins suffered a high ankle sprain but “should be back for the playoffs, if not sooner.”
  • The Miami Dolphins placed Jerome Baker on injured reserve due to the MCL sprain he suffered in Week 13. He did not play in the Dolphins’ Monday night loss to the Tennessee Titans and will be sidelined for at least three more games.
  • Jalyn Holmes made his season debut and recorded one tackle for the Jets after being elevated from their practice squad for Week 14.

Statistics for every former Ohio State player from Week 14 and for the entire 2023 NFL season can be found in the table below compiled by Eleven Warriors researcher Matt Gutridge. (Note: The table only includes players who finished their college careers at Ohio State.)

Buckeyes Around the NFL
PLAYER POSITION TEAM WEEK 14 STATS SEASON STATS
ELI APPLE CB DOLPHINS Inactive 31 tackles, 1 QB hit, 6 PD
JEROME BAKER LB DOLPHINS Injured reserve (knee) 68 tackles, 1.5 sacks (0 yards), 2 TFL, 4 QB hits, 2 INT, 3 PD, 1 TD
VONN BELL S PANTHERS 6 tackles 53 tackles, 1 QB hit 1 INT, 2 PD
JOEY BOSA OLB CHARGERS Injured reserve (foot) 20 tackles, 6.5 sacks (59 yards), 6 TFL, 8 QB hits, 1 PD, 1 FF, 1 FR
NICK BOSA DE 49ERS 6 tackles, 1.5 sacks (3.5 yards), 1 TFL, 2 QB hits, 1 PD 44 tackles, 9 sacks (57.5 yards), 10 TFL, 32 QB hits, 3 PD, 1 FF, 1 FR
NOAH BROWN WR TEXANS Started at WR 21 catches, 439 yards, 1 TD
BARON BROWNING OLB BRONCOS 4 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 PD 19 tackles, 3.5 sacks (22.5 yards), 4 TFL, 6 QB hits, 2 PD, 2 FF
PARRIS CAMPBELL WR GIANTS Inactive 20 catches, 104 yards; 8 KR, 191 yards
JONATHON COOPER OLB BRONCOS 2 tackles, 1 INT, 1 PD 60 tackles, 5.5 sacks (42.5 yards), 1 FF, 5 TFL, 10 QB hits, 1 INT, 2 PD, 2 FR, 1 TD
TAYLOR DECKER OT LIONS Started at LT 11 starts at LT
J.K. DOBBINS RB RAVENS Injured reserve (Achilles) 8 carries, 22 yards, 1 TD
EZEKIEL ELLIOTT RB PATRIOTS 22 carries, 68 yards; 7 catches, 72 yards, 1 TD; 1 tackle 134 carries, 497 yards, 2 TD; 31 catches, 226 yards; 1 tackle
LUKE FARRELL TE JAGUARS Played at TE 11 catches, 120 yards
JUSTIN FIELDS QB BEARS 19/33 passing, 223 yards, 1 TD; 12 carries, 58 yards, 1 TD 162/235 passing, 1,810 yards, 13 TD, 6 INT; 89 carries, 452 yards, 2 TD
JORDAN FULLER S RAMS 5 tackles 78 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 INT, 6 PD, 3 FF
DaVON HAMILTON DT JAGUARS Started at DT 2 tackles
JOHNATHAN HANKINS DT COWBOYS Started at DT 26 tackles, 3 sacks, (18 yards), 2 TFL, 3 QB hits, 2 PD
MALIK HARRISON LB RAVENS Inactive 18 tackles, 1 QB hit
ZACH HARRISON DE FALCONS 1 tackle 21 tackles, 1 QB hit
CAMERON HEYWARD DT STEELERS 6 tackles, 1 sack (8 yards), 1 TFL, 1 QB hit 25 tackles, 2 sacks (14 yards), 5 TFL, 3 QB hits
RONNIE HICKMAN S BROWNS 2 tackles, 1 PD 7 tackles, 1 PD
JALYN HOLMES DE JETS 1 tackle 1 tackle
MALIK HOOKER S COWBOYS 3 tackles, 1 PD, 1 FR 46 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 INT, 3 PD, 1 FF, 1 FR
SAM HUBBARD DE BENGALS 3 tackles 48 tackles, 5 sacks (31 yards), 6 TFL, 14 QB hits, 1 FR
JONAH JACKSON OG LIONS Started at LG 8 starts at LG
PARIS JOHNSON JR. OL CARDINALS Bye 13 starts at RT
CAMERON JOHNSTON P TEXANS 8 punts, 50.6 average, 2 inside 20 45 punts, 47.7 average, 18 inside 20
DAWAND JONES OT BROWNS Inactive 9 starts at RT, 11 games played
DRE'MONT JONES DE SEAHAWKS 4 tackles, 1 sack (0 yards), 1 QB hit 33 tackles, 3.5 sacks (13 yards), 4 TFL, 10 QB hits
MARSHON LATTIMORE CB SAINTS Injured reserve (ankle) 48 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 INT, 8 PD
TYQUAN LEWIS DE COLTS 1 tackle, 1 TFL, 1 QB hit 20 tackles, 3 sacks (19.5 yards) 6 TFL, 10 QB hits, 3 PD
COREY LINSLEY C CHARGERS Non-football illness (heart) 3 starts at C
TANNER McCALISTER FS BROWNS Practice squad 1 game played
LIAM McCULLOUGH LS FALCONS Played at LS 1 tackle, 12 games played at LS
TERRY McLAURIN WR COMMANDERS Bye 60 receptions, 694 yards, 2 TD, 1 FR TD
JAKE McQUAIDE LS LIONS Played at LS 1 tackle, 5 games played at LS
THAYER MUNFORD OT RAIDERS Started at LT 7 starts, 12 games played
JOSH MYERS C PACKERS Started at C 13 games started at C
JEFF OKUDAH CB FALCONS Inactive 41 tackles, 1 TFL, 4 PD
CHRIS OLAVE WR SAINTS 4 catches, 28 yards, 1 TD 75 catches, 918 yards, 4 TD
NICHOLAS PETIT-FRERE OT TITANS Injured reserve (shoulder) 2 starts at OT, 3 games played
ISAIAH PRINCE OT FALCONS Released 2 games played
BRADLEY ROBY CB EAGLES 7 tackles, 1 TFL 19 tackles, 1 QB hit, 1 TFL, 1 FF
JEREMY RUCKERT TE JETS 3 catches, 37 yards 14 catches, 135 yards
CURTIS SAMUEL WR COMMANDERS Bye 51 catches, 508 yards, 2 TD; 4 carries, 20 yards, 1 TD
TREY SERMON RB COLTS 3 carries, 13 yards 11 carries, 37 yards
KENDALL SHEFFIELD CB 49ERS Released 4 tackles, 1 TFL
TYREKE SMITH LB SEAHAWKS Practice squad 1 tackle
JAXON SMITH-NJIGBA WR SEAHAWKS 4 catches, 25 yards 49 catches, 493 yards, 2 TD
C.J. STROUD QB TEXANS 10/23 passing, 91 yards 275/441 passing, 3,631 yards, 20 TD, 5 INT; 35 carries, 143 yards, 3 TD
MICHAEL THOMAS WR SAINTS Injured reserve (knee) 39 catches, 448 yards, 1 TD
NICK VANNETT TE CHARGERS Started at TE 2 starts at TE, 4 games played
SHAUN WADE CB PATRIOTS Inactive 16 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 PD
DENZEL WARD CB BROWNS Inactive 29 tackles, 1 TFL, 2 INT, 10 PD, 1 FF
PETE WERNER LB SAINTS 2 tackles, 1 FR 70 tackles, 0.5 sacks (4 yards), 1 TFL, 1 QB hit, 1 INT, 1 PD, 2 FR
GARRETT WILSON WR JETS 9 catches, 108 yards 76 catches, 853 yards, 3 TD; 1 carry, 6 yards; 0/1 passing
LUKE WYPLER C BROWNS Inactive 3 games played
CHASE YOUNG DE 49ERS 1 PD 19 tackles, 6.5 sacks (45.5 yards), 7 TFL, 13 QB hits, 2 PD
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