Across The Shield is Eleven Warriors’ weekly recap of the best and most notable performances from former Ohio State players throughout the NFL. A pair of 300-yard games from Ohio State’s two NFL quarterbacks and a dominant day from Nick Bosa highlighted Week 4 for Buckeyes across the league.
Stroud, Fields both top 300
The outstanding start to the season for Ohio State’s two NFL quarterbacks continued in Week 4.
C.J. Stroud and Justin Fields both topped 300 passing yards for the first time this season as Stroud led the Houston Texans to a comeback win and Fields had one of the best all-around games of his professional career.
Stroud led the fourth game-winning drive and second fourth-quarterback comeback of his young NFL career as he guided a nine-play, 69-yard touchdown drive in the final three minutes to bring his Texans back from a 20-17 deficit to a 24-20 win against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Stroud completed all five of his passing attempts on the drive for 45 combined yards, including a 26-yard connection with Nico Collins and the game-winning 1-yard touchdown pass to Dare Ogunbowale. He also scrambled twice on the drive for 12 combined yards.
C.J. FINDS NICO TO LEAD US DOWN THE FIELD
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) September 29, 2024
: @NFLonCBS / @paramountplus pic.twitter.com/guOoTdrQ3a
MADE FOR THE MOMENT
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) September 29, 2024
: @NFLonCBS / @paramountplus pic.twitter.com/0YUWwBRL8m
For the game as a whole, Stroud completed 27 of his 40 passing attempts for a season-high 345 yards with two touchdowns and zero interceptions. In the process, Stroud surpassed 5,000 passing yards for his NFL career. By reaching that milestone in only 19 games, Stroud became the third-fastest quarterback to reach 5,000 passing yards behind only Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert, according to ESPN.
Fields, meanwhile, surpassed 300 passing yards for just the second time in his NFL career as he completed 22 of 34 passing attempts for 312 yards and one touchdown in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 27-24 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. He also ran the ball 10 times for 55 yards and two touchdowns, the second time he’s ran for two touchdowns in an NFL game.
.@justnfields takes it in himself for the tuddie
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) September 29, 2024
Stream on NFL+: https://t.co/COxKRnr6Mc pic.twitter.com/dSZMSjkQL1
.@justnfields powers his way in for the TD
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) September 29, 2024
Stream on NFL+: https://t.co/COxKRnr6Mc pic.twitter.com/xEJUsybXi4
Fields’ attempt at a game-winning drive came up short, partially due to a fumbled snap – his second fumble of the game – that cost the Steelers 12 yards even though he recovered it. Despite those mistakes, Fields’ overall performance in Indianapolis continued to make his case for remaining the Steelers’ starting quarterback entering Week 5 as they bring a 3-1 record into their Sunday Night Football matchup with the Dallas Cowboys.
Bosa dominates Patriots
No NFL pass-rusher has pressured a quarterback more times in a single game this season than Nick Bosa did against the New England Patriots on Sunday.
According to NFL Pro’s Next Gen Stats, Bosa recorded nine quarterback pressures in the 49ers’ 30-13 win over the San Francisco 49ers, tying Micah Parsons and Will Anderson Jr. for the most in a single game by an NFL defender this year. His nine pressures were the most of any player in Week 4.
Bosa got off the line of scrimmage in an average time of 0.51 seconds on Sunday, the fastest average recorded by Next Gen Stats by any defender with a minimum of 20 pass-rushing snaps in a game over the last seven seasons.
Nick Bosa led the 49ers pass rush with 9 pressures in Week 4, nearly matching his pressure total from Weeks 1-3 (10).
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) September 29, 2024
Bosa averaged a 0.51-second pass rush get-off, the quickest by any defender in a game over the last seven seasons (min. 20 pass rushes).#NEvsSF | @49ers pic.twitter.com/B6LeM1RtVk
While advanced stats are necessary to fully reflect how dominant Bosa was, he got the highlight-reel play he deserved late in the fourth quarter when he smoothly turned the corner on Patriots left tackle Demontrey Jacobs and hit Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett from his blind side before he could release the ball, forcing a fumble on a strip sack. He proceeded to recover the loose ball himself for a win-sealing takeaway.
Sack, fumble, fumble recovery for @nbsmallerbear
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) September 29, 2024
#NEvsSF on FOX
NFL+ // https://t.co/KTh0i4oaLh pic.twitter.com/ey2V713Bxz
In recognition of his dominant play throughout the game, Bosa becomes the first defensive player this season to win Eleven Warriors’ Pro Buck of the Week award, which honors the top NFL player from Ohio State for each week of the NFL season.
| Week | Player | Stats |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chargers RB J.K. Dobbins | 10 carries, 135 yards, 1 TD; 3 catches, 4 yards |
| 2 | Cardinals WR Marvin Harrison Jr. | 4 catches, 130 yards, 2 TD |
| 3 | Commanders WR Terry McLaurin | 4 catches, 100 yards, 1 TD |
| 4 | 49ers DE Nick Bosa | 5 tackles, 1 sack, 1 FF, 1 FR, 9 QB pressures |
Marv, Terry and Parris catch touchdowns
Week 4 brought another trio of touchdown receptions for former Ohio State receivers.
Marvin Harrison Jr. scored a first-quarter touchdown for the third week in a row – his fourth first-quarter touchdown catch in three games – when he beat one-on-one coverage from Washington Commanders cornerback Noah Igbinoghene out of the slot to turn a fourth-down play into a 2-yard touchdown on the left side of the end zone.
Some Murray Magic to Marvelous Marv pic.twitter.com/4Fzg2hmOzp
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) September 29, 2024
Harrison also had converted a 4th-and-12 later in the game with a 19-yard reception and finished the day with five catches for 45 yards.
The Commanders won the game 42-14, however, with the help of Terry McLaurin, who scored his second touchdown in as many weeks on a 10-yard catch in the fourth quarter to cap off a seven-reception, 52-yard day.
JD5 SCARY TERRY
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) September 29, 2024
#WASvsAZ FOX pic.twitter.com/Uk5SzmnSvd
In other action, Parris Campbell scored his first touchdown since 2022 when he hauled in a 1-yard pass from Jalen Hurts in the second quarter of the Philadelphia Eagles’ loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Jalen - > Parris TD #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/BZzWnrBUH6
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) September 29, 2024
Campbell, who the Eagles called up from their practice squad for the third week in a row with star receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith both sidelined by injuries, finished the game with four catches for 17 yards.
One could say that former Buckeye wide receivers had four receiving touchdowns in Week 4 as Jameson Williams, who started his college career at Ohio State before transferring to Alabama, turned on the jets for a 70-yard catch-and-run touchdown in the Detroit Lions’ Monday night win over the Seattle Seahawks.
Waymo: Primetime Mode#SEAvsDET | #OnePride pic.twitter.com/D6S8q4PAud
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) October 1, 2024
Touchdowns aside, the former Ohio State receiver who had the most productive game in Week 4 was Chris Olave, who caught eight passes for 87 yards in the New Orleans Saints’ 26-24 loss to the Atlanta Falcons.
For the second week in a row, Olave played a crucial role in the Saints taking a late-game lead as he converted a pair of third downs with two catches for 29 yards – along with a 32-yard catch that was nullified by an illegal motion penalty against the Saints – that set up a go-ahead touchdown run by Alvin Kamara with just one minute left to play. Once again, however, the Saints defense was unable to preserve the lead as Younghoe Koo made a game-winning 58-yard field goal for Atlanta.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba tied Olave for the most receptions among former Ohio State receivers in Week 4, catching eight passes for 51 yards, while he also showed off some throwing ability with an accurate lateral to Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet that resulted in a 19-yard gain on 3rd-and-16.
A little late night lateral action pic.twitter.com/uGHdY2Sv16
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) October 1, 2024
Quick Hits
- Vonn Bell made his first interception of the season, hauling in an errant pass from Andy Dalton to help give the Cincinnati Bengals an early edge in their 34-24 win over the Carolina Panthers – the team Bell spent last season with before returning to the Bengals.
- Dre’Mont Jones forced the first safety of his career on a fourth-quarter sack – his second sack in as many weeks – in the Seahawks’ loss to the Lions.
- Cameron Heyward also notched his second sack in as many weeks as he recorded six total tackles and three total quarterback hits in the Steelers’ loss to the Colts.
- The Denver Broncos elevated Tanner McCalister from their practice squad for the second week in a row. He played 17 snaps on special teams in the Broncos’ win over the New York Jets.
- The Carolina Panthers placed Jordan Fuller on injured reserve prior to their loss to the Bengals with a hamstring injury. He will miss at least three more games before he is eligible to return.
- Mike Hall Jr. received a five-game suspension from the NFL on Tuesday for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. Hall, who pleaded no contest to a charge of disorderly conduct last month after he was arrested for a domestic dispute in August, will be eligible for reinstatement following the Cleveland Browns’ Week 5 game against the Washington Commanders after spending the first four weeks of the season on the commissioner’s exempt list.
Week 4 Stats
The following table, compiled by Eleven Warriors researcher Matt Gutridge, includes statistics for this week and the entire 2024 season for every Buckeye who has played in at least one game this season. (Note: The table only includes players who finished their college careers at Ohio State.)
| PLAYER | POSITION | TEAM | WEEK 4 STATS | SEASON STATS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JEROME BAKER | LB | SEAHAWKS | Inactive | 9 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 PD, 1 FR |
| VONN BELL | S | BENGALS | 6 tackles, 1 INT | 29 tackles, 1 INT, 1 PD |
| JOEY BOSA | DE | CHARGERS | Inactive | 9 tackles, 2 sacks (14 yards), 2 TFL, 3 QB hits, |
| NICK BOSA | DE | 49ERS | 5 tackles, 1 sack (2 yards), 1 FF, 1 FR | 14 tackles, 3 sacks (12 yards), 4 TFL, 4 QB hits, 1 FF, 1 FR |
| NOAH BROWN | WR | COMMANDERS | 3 catches, 26 yards | 9 catches, 111 yards |
| BARON BROWNING | LB | BRONCOS | Injured reserve (foot) | 5 tackles, 1 TFL |
| PARRIS CAMPBELL | WR | EAGLES | 4 catches, 17 yards, 1 TD | 6 catches, 30 yards, 1 TD |
| JONATHON COOPER | LB | BRONCOS | 3 tackles, 2 QB hits | 17 tackles, 3 sacks (18 yards), 3 TFL, 7 QB hits |
| TAYLOR DECKER | OT | LIONS | Started at LT | 4 starts at LT |
| J.K. DOBBINS | RB | CHARGERS | 14 carries, 32 yards; 3 catches, 30 yards | 56 carries, 342 yards, 2 TD; 9 catches, 44 yards |
| TOMMY EICHENBERG | LB | RAIDERS | 3 tackles | 5 tackles |
| EZEKIEL ELLIOTT | RB | COWBOYS | 5 carries, 19 yards; 1 catch, 5 yards | 24 carries, 81 yards, 1 TD; 2 catches, 11 yards |
| LUKE FARRELL | TE | JAGUARS | Played at TE | 3 catches, 14 yards; 1 tackle |
| JUSTIN FIELDS | QB | STEELERS | 22/34, 312 yards, 1 TD; 10 carries, 55 yards, 2 TD | 77/109, 830 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT; 38 carries, 145 yards, 3 TD |
| NICHOLAS PETIT-FRERE | OL | TITANS | Started at RT | 4 starts at RT |
| JORDAN FULLER | S | PANTHERS | Injured reserve (hamstring) | 15 tackles |
| MIKE HALL JR. | DT | BROWNS | Commissioner’s exempt list | |
| DAVON HAMILTON | DT | JAGUARS | 2 tackles | 5 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 QB hit |
| JOHNATHAN HANKINS | DT | SEAHAWKS | 2 tackles | 10 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 QB hit |
| MALIK HARRISON | LB | RAVENS | 3 tackles | 9 tackles |
| ZACH HARRISON | DL | FALCONS | 5 tackles | 7 tackles |
| MARVIN HARRISON JR. | WR | CARDINALS | 5 catches, 45 yards, 1 TD | 15 catches, 243 yards, 4 TD |
| CAMERON HEYWARD | DT | STEELERS | 6 tackles, 1 sack (7 yards), 3 QB hits | 17 tackles, 2 sacks (17 yards), 3 TFL, 7 QB hits |
| RONNIE HICKMAN | S | BROWNS | 6 tackles | 14 tackles, 1 PD, 1 FR |
| JALYN HOLMES | DE | JETS | Played at DE | 4 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 QB hit |
| MALIK HOOKER | S | COWBOYS | 5 tackles, 1 PD | 16 tackles, 1 PD |
| SAM HUBBARD | DE | BENGALS | 2 tackles | 12 tackles, 1 QB hit |
| JONAH JACKSON | OG | RAMS | Injured reserve (shoulder) | 1 start at C, 1 start at LG |
| PARIS JOHNSON JR. | OL | CARDINALS | Started at LT | 4 starts at LT |
| CAMERON JOHNSTON | P | STEELERS | Injured reserve (knee) | 2 punts, 51.5 average, 1 inside 20 |
| DAWAND JONES | OT | BROWNS | Started at RT | 4 starts at RT |
| DRE'MONT JONES | DE | SEAHAWKS | 2 tackles, 1 sack (4 yards) | 9 tackles, 2 sacks (18 yards), 3 TFL, 3 QB hits, 1 FF |
| MICHAEL JORDAN | OG | PATRIOTS | Inactive | 3 starts at LG, 1 FR |
| MARSHON LATTIMORE | CB | SAINTS | 5 tackles, 1 PD | 9 tackles, 1 PD |
| TYQUAN LEWIS | DT | COLTS | 2 tackles, 0.5 sack (1.5 yards), 2 QB hits | 17 tackles, 1.5 sack (9.5 yards), 2 TFL, 3 QB hits |
| TANNER McCALISTER | S | BRONCOS | Played on special teams | 1 tackle |
| LIAM McCULLOUGH | LS | FALCONS | Played at LS | 4 games played |
| TERRY McLAURIN | WR | COMMANDERS | 7 catches, 52 yards, 1 TD | 19 catches, 191 yards, 2 TD |
| RAEKWON McMILLAN | LB | PATRIOTS | 7 tackles | 24 tackles, 1 QB hit |
| THAYER MUNFORD | OT | RAIDERS | Inactive | 3 starts at RT |
| JOSH MYERS | C/G | PACKERS | Started at C | 4 starts at C |
| JAXON SMITH-NJIGBA | WR | SEAHAWKS | 8 catches, 51 yards | 25 catches, 226 yards |
| JEFF OKUDAH | CB | TEXANS | Injured reserve (hip) | Played on special teams |
| CHRIS OLAVE | WR | SAINTS | 8 catches, 87 yards | 20 catches, 265 yards, 1 TD; 1 carry, 7 yards; 2 tackles |
| JEREMY RUCKERT | TE | JETS | 2 catches, 10 yards | 4 catches, 25 yards |
| CURTIS SAMUEL | WR | BILLS | 2 catches, 8 yards; 1 carry, 7 yards | 8 catches, 48 yards; 2 carries, 7 yards |
| TREY SERMON | RB | COLTS | 5 carries, 8 yards | 9 carries, 24 yards, 1 TD; 1 catch, 7 yards |
| CADE STOVER | TE | TEXANS | 1 catch, 27 yards | 2 catches, 45 yards |
| C.J. STROUD | QB | TEXANS | 27/40, 345 yards, 2 TD; 3 carries, 17 yards | 94/139, 1,054 yards, 6 TD, 2 INT; 11 carries, 41 yards |
| NICK VANNETT | TE | TITANS | Played at TE | 4 catches, 20 yards, 1 TD |
| DENZEL WARD | CB | BROWNS | 1 tackle, 1 PD | 7 tackles, 1 QB hit, 7 PD |
| PETE WERNER | LB | SAINTS | 6 tackles | 21 tackles |
| GARRETT WILSON | WR | JETS | 5 catches, 41 yards | 20 catches, 191 yards, 1 TD |
| LUKE WYPLER | C | BROWNS | Injured reserve (ankle) | |
| CHASE YOUNG | DE | SAINTS | 3 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 QB hit | 10 tackles, 0.5 sack (3 yards), 1 TFL, 7 QB hits |
