Across The Shield is Eleven Warriors’ weekly recap of the best and most notable performances from former Ohio State players throughout the NFL.
Week 13 brought us another round of standout performances by former Ohio State players in the NFL including Denzel Ward forcing two interceptions, Terry McLaurin scoring two touchdowns, Marvin Harrison Jr. making an impressive toe-tapping touchdown catch and Cameron Heyward having a big game for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Ward forces two interceptions while honoring father
Denzel Ward continued his excellent 2024 season with a standout performance on Monday Night Football while paying tribute to his late father.
First, Ward set up an interception for fellow Cleveland Browns cornerback Greg Newsome. In coverage against Denver Broncos receiver Troy Franklin, Ward made a perfect break on the ball to tip Bo Nix’s pass up in the air, allowing Newsome to haul the deflected ball in for a pick.
The Warden on the coverage and G-New finishes the play!#CLEvsDEN on ESPN and NFL+ pic.twitter.com/rPeeRux6Xj
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) December 3, 2024
Later, Ward grabbed an interception of his own with a leaping grab on a deep ball thrown by Nix over the head of Broncos receiver Marvin Mims Jr.
LOCK DOWN D#CLEvsDEN on ESPN and NFL+ pic.twitter.com/dJ8DefkSmz
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) December 3, 2024
Those two interceptions doubled the Browns’ interception total for the first 12 weeks of the season, as the Browns had just two interceptions for the season entering Monday night. They also extended Ward’s lead for the most passes defensed in the NFL this season as he is now up to 19 on the season (2 INT, 17 PBU), four more than any other player.
It’s the second time in three weeks that Ward has forced two turnovers in a game, as he had both an interception and a forced fumble that he recovered himself in the Browns’ loss to the New Orleans Saints two weeks ago. Just as he did then, Ward earns our Pro Buck of the Week award as Ohio State’s top NFL performer for Week 13, becoming the third two-time winner of the award this year along with Nick Bosa and Marvin Harrison Jr.
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 |
5 | Seahawks LB Jerome Baker | 14 tackles, 1 sack, 1 FF |
6 | 49ers DE Nick Bosa | 4 tackles, 2 QB hits, 14 QB pressures |
7 | Bengals DE Sam Hubbard | 3 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT, 1 FF, 3 QB hits |
8 | Cardinals WR Marvin Harrison Jr. | 6 catches, 111 yards, 1 TD |
9 | Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba | 7 catches, 180 yards, 2 TD |
10 | Saints DE Chase Young | 1 sack, 1 FF, 2 QB hits, 9 QB pressures |
11 | Browns CB Denzel Ward | 4 tackles, 1 INT, 1 FF, 1 FR, 2 PBU |
12 | Ravens LB Malik Harrison | 13 tackles, 1 TFL |
13 | Browns CB Denzel Ward | 3 tackles, 1 INT, 1 PBU that forced an INT |
Ward’s big game came on a night that the former Ohio State cornerback was wearing cleats promoting his heart health foundation, Make Them Know Your Name, which he started in honor of his late father, who died in 2016 from sudden cardiac arrest. Ward, along with many other players around the NFL, wore cleats designed to promote charitable causes in Week 13 as part of the NFL’s annual “My Cause My Cleats” campaign.
The story of Ward’s father and his foundation, which we wrote about in 2019, was profiled in a feature on ESPN’s Monday Night Countdown and by Cleveland.com before Monday’s game.
Terry goes for two again
Terry McLaurin’s full-fledged emergence as one of the NFL’s best wide receivers now that the Commanders finally have stability at quarterback continued on Sunday.
McLaurin had his third two-touchdown game of the season, bringing him to a career-high nine scores for the year, as he scored twice in the first 20 minutes of the Commanders’ 42-19 rout of the Tennessee Titans.
PRETTYYYYY SCARY
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) December 1, 2024
#TENvsWAS CBS pic.twitter.com/JZmEhl5cmH
Terry McLaurin is very good at football
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) December 1, 2024
#TENvsWAS CBS pic.twitter.com/T7NnxX6t2K
Those two touchdowns highlighted an eight-catch, 73-yard day for McLaurin, who now ranks third in the NFL with 896 receiving yards and tied for second in the league with nine receiving touchdowns on 61 receptions this season.
Unfortunately for McLaurin, the weekend wasn’t entirely celebratory as he had to pay off a bet to his Commanders teammate and former Michigan cornerback Mike Sainrstil after the game as a result of Michigan’s 13-10 win over Ohio State – though he made sure to remind Sainristil that Ohio State never lost to Michigan during his Buckeye career.
“I’m still trying to process that,” McLaurin said of Ohio State’s loss. “Hats off to y’all, man, y’all came in there and y’all made the plays to win, so we gotta find a way to come back next year and get the W. But I ain’t ever never lose.”
A bet's a bet @TheTerry_25 x @MikeSainristil pic.twitter.com/Dq8p8spbxI
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) December 1, 2024
Marv makes toe-tapping touchdown grab
Marvin Harrison Jr. made a name for himself at Ohio State with a multitude of toe-tapping grabs during his three years as a Buckeye, and he had another one for a 15-yard touchdown on Sunday in the Arizona Cardinals’ loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
Marvin Harrison Jr. ON DISPLAY pic.twitter.com/yRsXuA7xgl
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) December 1, 2024
MARV THE PEOPLE LOVE YOU!!! pic.twitter.com/kA5jf4E5HP
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) December 1, 2024
Harrison caught five total passes for 60 yards on Sunday, bringing him to 41 receptions for 606 yards and seven touchdowns for the season. He leads all NFL rookies in receiving touchdowns and is tied for sixth among all NFL players in that category through 13 weeks.
Heyward highly disruptive for Steelers
Sunday’s game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals was no defensive showcase as the two teams combined for 82 points, but Cameron Heyward had a great performance individually to help lead the Steelers to a 44-38 win over the Bengals.
The 14th-year NFL veteran recorded five total tackles with two tackles for loss and a sack in Sunday’s game.
good god Cam Heyward pic.twitter.com/zgmp4eR0b6
— Christian D'Andrea (@TrainIsland) December 1, 2024
35 year old Cam Heyward leads the Steelers in QB Pressures... I just think that's tremendous. pic.twitter.com/9nQuN1kN3k
— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) December 2, 2024
Heyward tied his season-high with five total quarterback pressures, per NFL Next Gen Stats, and also tipped a Joe Burrow pass that was intercepted by his Steelers teammate Donte Jackson.
TIP DRILL
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 1, 2024
Stream on NFL+: https://t.co/COxKRnr6Mc pic.twitter.com/M9vp2aHHzY
Justin Fields also played a notable role in securing Sunday’s victory for the Steelers. While he didn’t throw a pass in the game as Russell Wilson threw for a whopping 414 yards against the Bengals, Fields sealed the game for Pittsburgh when he came in for 3rd-and-4 with just 1:54 left to play and ran 7 yards for a first down that allowed the Steelers to run out the clock.
"A slide by Fields and that's gonna do it!"
— NFL on CBS (@NFLonCBS) December 1, 2024
The @steelers close out strong pic.twitter.com/jsJIMINvbW
Togiai, Stroud have strong showings in Texans win
The Houston Texans added Tommy Togiai to their 53-man roster last week after being elevated from the practice squad for their previous three games, and the former Ohio State defensive tackle took advantage with one of the most productive games of his NFL career.
Togiai, who did not play in any NFL regular-season games in 2023 and did not play in any games until Week 10 of this season, tied his career-high with five tackles in the Texans’ 23-20 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
C.J. Stroud had his first interception-free game in four weeks as he completed 22 of his 34 passing attempts for 242 yards and one touchdown to lead the Texans to victory.
YEAHHHHHH DALTON
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) December 1, 2024
: @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/ogajzgt5Qo
Smith-Njigba’s success continues
Jaxon Smith-Njigba was the Seattle Seahawks’ leading receiver for the fifth week in a row as he helped lead Seattle to its third straight win by catching four passes for 74 yards in their 26-21 fourth-quarter comeback victory over the New York Jets.
Smith-Njigba’s efforts included a pair of 25-yard catches on the Seahawks’ first touchdown drive of the game and a 24-yard fourth-down catch on the final play of the third quarter to keep a field goal drive going.
JSN keeps the drive alive. pic.twitter.com/qPtEqKHnB7
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) December 1, 2024
With another productive day in Week 13, Smith-Njigba now ranks ninth in the NFL in both receptions (70) and receiving yards (829) this season.
He got the best of a battle of Ohio State receivers on Sunday as Garrett Wilson, who shared a moment with his former Buckeye teammate pregame, had only 41 yards on five catches (though he should have had a 9-yard touchdown on an ankle-breaking sluggo route if not for an overthrow by Aaron Rodgers).
Buckeye brothers. pic.twitter.com/EMJuG8hotK
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) December 1, 2024
Quick Hits
- Tyquan Lewis forced the second fumble of his NFL career and recorded three tackles in the Indianapolis Colts’ win over the New England Patriots. He played 23 total snaps off the bench for the Colts’ defensive line and received a game grade of 92.3 from Pro Football Focus, the fourth-highest grade of any NFL defender in Week 13.
- Jonathon Cooper got in on a pair of sacks in the Broncos’ Monday night win over the Browns, though he was only officially credited with one, his eighth of the season.
Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper combine for the sack! #CLEvsDEN pic.twitter.com/bs27ATV7pp
— BroncoBlog (@MileHighDubs88) December 3, 2024
- Jordan Fuller had a season-high eight tackles with a pass breakup in the Carolina Panthers’ overtime loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
- The Los Angeles Chargers placed J.K. Dobbins (knee) and Eli Apple (hamstring) on injured reserve with the injuries they suffered in Week 12. Both of them will remain sidelined until at least Week 17.
- The Philadelphia Eagles re-signed Parris Campbell to their active roster last week and he played 28 snaps off the bench in their win over the Baltimore Ravens, but they released him for the second time this season on Monday.
- The Minnesota Vikings signed Jake McQuaide to their 53-man roster after elevating him from their practice squad for the previous three games.
- The Patriots released Michael Jordan last week but re-signed him to their practice squad and elevated him from the practice squad for Sunday’s loss to the Colts, in which he played one snap off the bench as an extra offensive lineman.
Week 13 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 13 STATS | SEASON STATS |
---|---|---|---|---|
ELI APPLE | CB | CHARGERS | Injured reserve (hamstring) | 2 tackles, 1 PD |
JEROME BAKER | LB | TITANS | 6 tackles | 54 tackles, 1 sack (0 yards), 2 TFL, 2 QB hits, 2 PD, 1 FF, 1 FR |
VONN BELL | S | BENGALS | 1 tackle | 49 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 QB hit, 1 INT, 2 PD |
JOEY BOSA | DE | CHARGERS | 1 QB hit | 15 tackles, 3 sacks (16 yards), 4 TFL, 9 QB hits |
NICK BOSA | DE | 49ERS | Inactive | 36 tackles, 7.0 sacks (40 yards), 10 TFL, 15 QB hits, 1 INT, 1 PD, 1 FF, 1 FR |
NOAH BROWN | WR | COMMANDERS | 3 catches, 27 yards | 35 catches, 453 yards, 1 TD |
BARON BROWNING | LB | CARDINALS | 3 tackles, 1 TFL | 12 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 QB hit |
PARRIS CAMPBELL | WR | EAGLES | Played at WR | 6 catches, 30 yards, 1 TD |
JONATHON COOPER | LB | BRONCOS | 3 tackles, 1 sack (8 yards) | 49 tackles, 8 sacks (40 yards), 8 TFL, 14 QB hits, 1 FF |
TAYLOR DECKER | OT | LIONS | Inactive | 10 starts at LT |
J.K. DOBBINS | RB | CHARGERS | Injured reserve (knee) | 158 carries, 766 yards, 8 TD; 23 catches, 123 yards |
TOMMY EICHENBERG | LB | RAIDERS | Played on special teams | 11 tackles |
EZEKIEL ELLIOTT | RB | COWBOYS | 1 carry, 4 yards | 59 carries, 189 yards, 2 TD; 6 catches, 31 yards |
LUKE FARRELL | TE | JAGUARS | Started at TE | 9 catches, 55 yards; 1 tackle |
JUSTIN FIELDS | QB | STEELERS | 1 carry, 7 yards | 106/161, 1,106 yards, 5 TD, 1 INT; 61 carries, 281 yards, 5 TD |
JORDAN FULLER | S | PANTHERS | 8 tackles, 1 PD | 34 tackles, 1 PD, 1 FF |
MIKE HALL JR. | DT | BROWNS | Injured reserve (knee) | 5 tackles, 1 TFL, 2 QB hit |
DAVON HAMILTON | DT | JAGUARS | 5 tackles, 1 TFL | 40 tackles, 4 TFL, 1 QB hit |
JOHNATHAN HANKINS | DT | SEAHAWKS | Played at DT | 24 tackles, 3 TFL, 1 QB hit, 1 INT, 1 PD |
MALIK HARRISON | LB | RAVENS | 2 tackles | 38 tackles, 1 sack (6 yards), 2 TFL |
ZACH HARRISON | DL | FALCONS | 1 tackle | 13 tackles, 1 TFL |
MARVIN HARRISON JR. | WR | CARDINALS | 5 catches, 60 yards, 1 TD | 41 catches, 606 yards, 7 TD |
CAMERON HEYWARD | DT | STEELERS | 5 tackles, 1 sack (8 yards), 2 TFL, 2 QB hits, 1 PD | 50 tackles, 6 sacks (53 yards), 8 TFL, 17 QB hits, 8 PD |
RONNIE HICKMAN | S | BROWNS | 3 tackles | 27 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 QB hit, 1 PD, 1 FR |
JALYN HOLMES | DE | COMMANDERS | Played at DE | 11 tackles, 1 sack (5 yards), 3 TFL, 2 QB hits |
MALIK HOOKER | S | COWBOYS | 4 tackles | 55 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 INT, 1 QB hit, 3 PD |
SAM HUBBARD | DE | BENGALS | 1 tackle, 1 QB hit | 38 tackles, 2 sacks (6 yards), 3 TFL, 9 QB hits, 1 INT, 2 PD, 1 FF |
JONAH JACKSON | OG | RAMS | Did not play | 2 starts at C, 1 start at LG |
PARIS JOHNSON JR. | OL | CARDINALS | Started at LT | 12 starts at LT |
CAMERON JOHNSTON | P | STEELERS | Injured reserve (knee) | 2 punts, 51.5 average, 1 inside 20 |
DAWAND JONES | OT | BROWNS | Injured reserve (ankle) | 5 starts at RT, 3 starts at LT, 9 games played |
DRE'MONT JONES | DE | SEAHAWKS | 1 QB hit | 21 tackles, 4 sacks (35 yards), 6 TFL, 11 QB hits, 1 PD, 1 FF |
JAMARCO JONES | OT | LIONS | Played at OG | 2 games played |
MICHAEL JORDAN | OG | PATRIOTS | Played at OG | 11 starts at LG, 1 FR, 12 games played |
MARSHON LATTIMORE | CB | COMMANDERS | Inactive | 30 tackles, 2 PD |
TYQUAN LEWIS | DT | COLTS | 3 tackles, 1 FF | 20 tackles, 1.5 sack (9.5 yards), 2 TFL, 4 QB hits, 1 FF |
TANNER McCALISTER | S | BRONCOS | Practice squad | 1 tackle |
LIAM McCULLOUGH | LS | FALCONS | Played at LS | 12 games played |
TERRY McLAURIN | WR | COMMANDERS | 8 catches, 83 yards, 2 TD | 61 catches, 906 yards, 9 TD; 2 carries, 2 yards; 1 FR |
RAEKWON McMILLAN | LB | PATRIOTS | Practice squad | 45 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 QB hit |
JAKE McQUAIDE | LS | VIKINGS | Played at LS | 4 games played |
THAYER MUNFORD | OT | RAIDERS | Played at OT | 4 starts at RT, 9 games played |
JOSH MYERS | C | PACKERS | Started at C | 11 starts at C |
JEFF OKUDAH | CB | TEXANS | 2 tackles | 4 tackles |
CHRIS OLAVE | WR | SAINTS | Injured reserve (head) | 32 catches, 400 yards, 1 TD; 1 carry, 7 yards; 2 tackles |
NICHOLAS PETIT-FRERE | OT | TITANS | Started at RT | 7 starts at RT, 9 games played |
ISAIAH PRINCE | OT | TITANS | Practice squad | 1 game played |
JEREMY RUCKERT | TE | JETS | 1 catch, 3 yards | 14 catches, 76 yards; 1 tackle |
CURTIS SAMUEL | WR | BILLS | 1 carry, 7 yards | 21 catches, 185 yards, 1 TD; 4 carries, 13 yards |
TREY SERMON | RB | COLTS | Played at RB | 47 carries, 131 yards, 2 TD; 12 catches, 75 yards |
KENDALL SHEFFIELD | CB | JETS | Practice squad | 3 tackles |
JAXON SMITH-NJIGBA | WR | SEAHAWKS | 4 catches, 74 yards; 1 carry, 5 yards | 70 catches, 829yards, 4 TD; 2 carries, 13 yards; 1/1 passing, 35 yards; 1 tackle |
CADE STOVER | TE | TEXANS | 1 catch, 4 yards | 13 catches, 128 yards, 1 TD |
C.J. STROUD | QB | TEXANS | 22/34, 242 yards, 1 TD; 5 carries, 7 yards | 253/397, 2,885yards, 14 TD, 7 INT; 42 carries, 194 yards |
TOMMY TOGIAI | DT | TEXANS | 5 tackles | 10 tackles, 1 sack (9 yards), 1 TFL, 1 QB hit, 2 PD |
NICK VANNETT | TE | TITANS | 1 catch, 6 yards | 12 catches, 90 yards, 2 TD |
SHAUN WADE | CB | CHARGERS | Practice squad | Has not played |
DENZEL WARD | CB | BROWNS | 3 tackles, 1 INT, 2 PD | 28 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 QB hit, 2 INT, 18 PD, 1 FF, 1 FR |
PETE WERNER | LB | SAINTS | 8 tackles | 57 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 PD |
GARRETT WILSON | WR | JETS | 5 catches, 41 yards | 74 catches, 763 yards, 5 TD |
LUKE WYPLER | C | BROWNS | Injured reserve (ankle) | Has not played |
CHASE YOUNG | DE | SAINTS | 1 QB hit | 20 tackles, 3.5 sacks (20.5 yards), 6 TFL, 16 QB hits, 1 PD, 1 FF |