Across The Shield: Sam Hubbard Makes First NFL Interception, Terry McLaurin’s Productive Season Continues and Jaxon Smith-Njigba Completes a 35-Yard Pass

Week 7 was highlighted by a big day for Sam Hubbard in the Battle of Ohio and Terry McLaurin continuing his strong start to the season for the Washington Commanders.

Hubbard makes first NFL interception

Sam Hubbard helped lead the Cincinnati Bengals to a win over their in-state rivals by making the first interception of his NFL career.

Playing in his 97th regular-season game, the former Ohio State defensive end made a leaping grab for a takeaway on an inaccurate throw from Cleveland Browns backup quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson that went off of Browns receiver Cedric Tillman’s hands.

First career INT for @Sam_Hubbard_

: #CINvsCLE on CBSpic.twitter.com/UfvmRLeoyd

— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) October 20, 2024

The interception was Hubbard’s first in any football game since 2015, when he dropped back into coverage to intercept a pass from Maryland quarterback Perry Hills in a 49-28 Ohio State win over the Terrapins.

In Sunday’s game against the Browns, Hubbard also recorded three tackles and three quarterback hits, including a strip sack on which he knocked the ball out of Thompson-Robinson’s hands for his first forced fumble of the season.

He did all of that despite playing with a broken right pinky finger.

Sam Hubbard beaming postgame after his first career interception playing with a broken right pinky finger suffered in week two at Kansas City. pic.twitter.com/aymLgCuDYs

— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) October 20, 2024

Hubbard’s milestone-setting and impressive all-around performance earned him our Pro Buck of the Week award as Ohio State’s top NFL performer for Week 7.

McLaurin continues strong start

A rib injury that knocked Washington Commanders starting quarterback Jayden Daniels out of action didn’t slow Terry McLaurin’s strong start to his sixth NFL season.

McLaurin came up just shy of his third 100-yard game of the season as he caught all six of his targets for 98 yards in the Commanders’ 40-7 rout of the Carolina Panthers. After catching one pass for three yards on Washington’s opening drive, the former Ohio State receiver caught five more passes from backup quarterback Marcus Mariota with all five of those catches going for 15 yards or more.

TERRYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

#CARvsWAS CBS pic.twitter.com/kkCQ8I2FiW

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) October 20, 2024

Seven games into the season, McLaurin has now caught 35 passes for 454 yards and four touchdowns, putting him well ahead of pace for his fifth straight 1,000-yard season. The Commanders’ 5-2 start, meanwhile, is easily the best McLaurin has experienced in his NFL career as he looks to lead Washington to its first playoff berth since 2020.

JSN throws deep

Ohio State fans know Jaxon Smith-Njigba for his ability to catch passes, but the record-setting former Buckeye receiver showed he could also throw a pass in the Seattle Seahawks’ 34-14 win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.

On the first passing attempt of his NFL career, Smith-Njigba completed a deep ball to DK Metcalf for a 35-yard gain. While it was a risky throw as Smith-Njigba heaved the ball between three Falcons defenders, he put the ball where Metcalf could make a play on it and the Seahawks’ No. 1 receiver rewarded JSN’s faith in him with a leaping grab.

JSN acknowledged that he threw into double coverage here but says he has faith in DK Metcalf in those situations to go up and get it.

Geno Smith said it was awesome and joked, Usually when I throw it up in double coverage, it doesn't end up like that. pic.twitter.com/zwum3ENHi2

— Dugar, Michael-Shawn (@MikeDugar) October 20, 2024

Smith-Njigba, who had more passing yards than receiving yards in Atlanta as he caught just three passes for nine yards vs. the Falcons, said the pass was the first he’s thrown in a game since middle school and that he was going to throw the ball no matter what once the play was called.

“I just said, I don't care, I'm just about to throw it,” Smith-Njigba said of getting the play call. “Give my playmakers a chance, really.”

In #Seahawks locker room here in Atlanta, Jaxon Smith-Njigba says there was no way he wasnt throwing that pass to DK Metcalf, no matter what, once he heard Ryan Grubbs play call.@thenewstribune pic.twitter.com/jT2HeKvXDP

— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) October 20, 2024

Quick Hits

• Dre’Mont Jones recorded a career-high four quarterback hits with two tackles for loss, a sack and a pass deflection in the Seahawks’ win in Atlanta.
• Nick Vannett, who had caught four passes for 20 yards for the season entering Week 7, caught a season-high four passes for 25 yards in the Tennessee Titans’ 34-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills.
• While Nick Bosa is still chasing his first win against Patrick Mahomes, the former Ohio State defensive end notched his third sack (regular season and postseason) against the Kansas City Chiefs star in the San Francisco 49ers’ 28-18 loss on Sunday.

Nick Bosa (@nbsmallerbear) goes stab/club & gets to Mahomes for the sack! #PassRush #49ers #FTTB pic.twitter.com/gSYTcisAnJ

— DLineVids (@dlinevids1) October 20, 2024

• C.J. Stroud completed only 10 passes on 21 attempts for 86 yards – all career-lows – in the Houston Texans’ 24-22 loss to the Green Bay Packers. Former Ohio State co-defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley was the architect behind the Packers’ stifling defensive effort as he is in his first year as Green Bay’s defensive coordinator.
• After starting the Pittsburgh Steelers’ first six games of the year, Justin Fields saw no game action in Week 7 as Russell Wilson led the Steelers to a 37-15 win over the New York Jets.
• The Jets elevated Kendall Sheffield from their practice squad for Sunday night’s game against the Steelers. He recorded two tackles in his Jets debut.
• Garrett Wilson had five official catches for 61 yards and also added a reception for a 2-point conversion in the Jets’ loss to the Steelers. However, a pass that went off his hands led to an interception and a lengthy return that set up a Steelers touchdown, prompting Wilson to blame himself for the loss after the game.

and the extra are good!#NYJvsPIT on NBC pic.twitter.com/M0PBWTBiKM

— New York Jets (@nyjets) October 21, 2024

"I don't take it light after that, I was the reason that we lost the game. S--t can't happen. It's a terrible play."

Garrett Wilson says his drop that led to an interception was a result of a "culmination of bad habits of not attacking the ball" pic.twitter.com/qZEnHTRkIs

— Jets Videos (@snyjets) October 21, 2024

• The Commanders signed Jalyn Holmes to their active roster ahead of Week 7. He recorded one tackle in his Commanders debut. 
• The Chicago Bears signed Jake McQuaide to their practice squad. The former Ohio State long snapper would become a 14-year NFL veteran if he plays in a game this season.
• The Denver Broncos activated Baron Browning from injured reserve. He played 31 defensive snaps but did not record any statistics in his first game back from a foot injury.
• The Los Angeles Chargers signed Shaun Wade to their active roster ahead of their Monday Night Football game against the Arizona Cardinals. He did not play in his first game on the roster, which the Chargers lost 17-15.
• Former Ohio State wide receiver Jameson Williams, who finished his college career at Alabama, is facing a two-game suspension from the NFL for violating the league’s performance-enhancing substance policy, ESPN’s Eric Woodyard reported Monday.

Week 7 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.)