Across The Shield: Lathan Ransom Shines in First Start, Joey Bosa Strip-Sacks Aaron Rodgers and DaVon Hamilton Fills In at Long Snapper

By Dan Hope and Matt Gutridge on December 2, 2025 at 8:02 am
Lathan Ransom vs. the Rams
Scott Kinser – Imagn Images
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Lathan Ransom became the latest member of Ohio State’s rookie class to have a big game, Joey Bosa became the NFL’s outright leader in forced fumbles with a game-changing strip sack, Terry McLaurin and C.J. Stroud had strong showings in their returns from injuries and DaVon Hamilton showed off a new skill set in Week 13 of the NFL season.

Those former Buckeyes were the biggest standouts among Ohio State’s contingent of NFL players in Week 13, and we’ve recapped all of their performances and more in this week’s Across The Shield, Eleven Warriors’ weekly look at how former Ohio State players are performing throughout the NFL.

Ransom shines in first start

Lathan Ransom made the most of his first career start on Sunday.

Ransom got the call to start for the first time because the Carolina Panthers’ regular starter at strong safety, Tre’von Moehrig, was suspended by the NFL for a week after punching San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings in the groin. He took advantage of the opportunity by recording 11 tackles, including his first career sack, to help lead the Panthers to a 31-28 upset win over the Los Angeles Rams.

Ransom had the most tackles of any NFL rookie in Week 13, continuing what’s been a standout season for Ohio State’s rookie class. With his excellent performance against the Rams, Ransom becomes the fifth rookie this year to earn our Pro Buck of the Week award as Ohio State’s top NFL performer of the week, joining two-time winners Emeka Egbuka and TreVeyon Henderson, as well as Quinshon Judkins and Denzel Burke.

Pro Bucks of the Week
Week Player Stats
1 Buccaneers WR Emeka Egbuka 4 catches, 67 yards, 2 TD; 1 rush, 9 yards
2 Bills DE Joey Bosa 2 tackles, 1 sack, 2 FF, 7 QB pressures
3 Steelers DT Cameron Heyward 6 tackles, 1 sack, 1 FF, 1 PD, 4 QB pressures
4 Buccaneers WR Emeka Egbuka 4 catches, 101 yards, 1 TD; 1 rush, 0 yards
5 Texans QB C.J. Stroud 23/27, 244 yards, 4 TD; 1 rush, 30 yards
6 Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba 8 catches, 162 yards, 1 TD
7 Browns RB Quinshon Judkins 25 carries, 84 yards, 3 TD
8 Texans QB C.J. Stroud 30/39, 318 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT; 7 carries, 30 yards
9 Cardinals CB Denzel Burke 7 tackles, 1 INT, 2 PD
10 Patriots RB TreVeyon Henderson 14 carries, 147 yards, 2 TD; 1 catch, 3 yards
11 Patriots RB TreVeyon Henderson 19 carries, 62 yards, 2 TD; 5 catches, 31 yards, 1 TD
12 Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba 8 catches, 167 yards, 2 TD; 1 carry, 4 yards
13 Panthers S Lathan Ransom 11 tackles, 1 sack

Unfortunately for Ransom, he suffered a thumb injury in the game, Panthers coach Dave Canales said Monday. Canales said the Panthers are still evaluating treatment options for his injury and the timeline for his return. Even if Ransom is ready to play in Week 15 after the Panthers’ Week 14 bye, Moehrig will likely retake his place in the starting lineup.

That said, Ransom’s performance in his first start made a strong case that he should have a big role in the Panthers’ defense going forward – and that they got a steal by landing him in the fourth round of the NFL draft.

Bosa’s fifth forced fumble sets up scoop-and-score

Joey Bosa became the NFL’s outright leader in forced fumbles with a game-changing strip sack in the Buffalo Bills’ win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.

With the Steelers leading 7-3 to start the second half, Bosa rushed around the outside of Steelers right guard Mason McCormick to hit Aaron Rodgers from behind and knock the ball out of his hands. His Bills teammate Christian Benford scooped up the loose ball and returned it for a go-ahead touchdown, and the Bills never looked back from there, going on to win the game 26-7.

The forced fumble was Bosa’s fifth of the season, breaking a tie with Aidan Hutchinson, Nate Landman and Josh Sweat for the most in the NFL this year.

Like Ransom, Bosa unfortunately suffered an injury of his own on Sunday, leaving the game late in the fourth quarter with a hamstring issue. It’s uncertain if and how long Bosa – who played in all of the Bills’ first 12 games after missing time with injuries in all of the last three seasons – will be sidelined by the injury.

“We’ll see where that goes,” Bills coach Sean McDermott said Monday.

DaVon Hamilton, long snapper

Former Ohio State defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton showed off a new skill set in Week 13.

When Jacksonville Jaguars long snapper Ross Matiscik was knocked out of the game with a back injury, the Jaguars turned to Hamilton to take over long-snapping duties for the rest of the first half. Hamilton got the ball back to punter/holder Logan Cooke for an extra point, three punts and a field goal – before Matiscik returned to the game for the second half – to help the Jaguars earn a 25-3 win over the Tennessee Titans.

Hamilton hadn’t long-snapped in a game since his days at Pickerington Central High School, but said after the game that it was something he had long wanted another opportunity to do, so he was prepared when his number was called. 

“Definitely a dream that came true,” Hamilton said after the game, per the Jaguars’ official website. “It was very cool. It's something I've been working on for about six years in the league, so it has been interesting. Haven't got my opportunity until today and it was very exciting. Definitely not something I want to do on a day-to-day basis, obviously, but it was fun.”

While Hamilton’s snaps weren’t perfect, Jaguars coach Liam Coen and the team’s full-time specialists were impressed by how well he got the job done playing a completely different role than he had ever played before in the NFL.

"That's so hard,” Cooke said. “You look at a guy who has gloves on and taped wrists (during games). It's a hard job regardless, so then you put all that in there. For him just to get the ball in there in the vicinity of where you want it is all you can ask for.”

Hamilton made a tackle on one of his punts and also played 15 snaps in the game at defensive tackle.

McLaurin has best game of season in return

After playing in just one of the Washington Commanders’ previous eight games due to a quad injury, Terry McLaurin returned to action on Sunday Night Football and had his best game of the season against the Denver Broncos.

McLaurin caught seven passes for 96 yards – both season-highs – including a touchdown with the game on the line on 4th-and-goal in overtime. Lined up against reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Pat Surtain II, McLaurin beat Surtain on a slant route.

McLaurin became the first player to score a touchdown against Surtain since Week 13 of the 2024 NFL season, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.

The touchdown gave the Commanders a chance to win the game in overtime, but their game-winning 2-point conversion attempt was unsuccessful when Broncos edge rusher Nick Bonitto knocked down a pass by Marcus Mariota. Nevertheless, the night showed a clear return to form for McLaurin, who had just 13 catches for 203 yards and one touchdown in his first four games of the season.

Stroud leads Texans to win in return

C.J. Stroud also made his return from injury in Week 13 and led the Houston Texans to a 20-16 win over the Indianapolis Colts.

After missing the Texans’ previous three games with a concussion, Stroud completed 22 of 35 passing attempts for 276 yards, his second-highest total of the season. He didn’t throw any touchdown passes and threw one interception, but led four scoring drives for the Texans and had seven pass completions that went for 15 yards or more.

JSN has quietest game of season

After breaking an NFL record with 11 straight games with more than 75 receiving yards to start the season, Jaxon Smith-Njigba finally had a quiet game in Week 13.

One week after Smith-Njigba had eight catches for a season-high 167 yards and two touchdowns against the Tennessee Titans, the Minnesota Vikings limited JSN to just two catches for 23 yards on Sunday.

Slowing down Smith-Njigba was about the only thing the Vikings did well on Sunday, as the Seattle Seahawks shut them out 26-0 to improve to 9-3 on the season.

He still leads the NFL with 1,336 receiving yards, 196 more yards than any other receiver in the NFL this season. The 23-yard game against the Vikings did knock Smith-Njigba off the pace needed to break Calvin Johnson’s NFL single-season receiving yards record, though it’s still not out of reach; to break the record, Smith-Njigba will need 628 receiving yards in the Seahawks’ final five games.

Cade Stover, tush push specialist

Like Hamilton, Cade Stover also found himself taking on a new role in Week 13.

The former Ohio State tight end had the first four rushing attempts of his NFL career as the Texans had him take a direct snap at quarterback to run the “tush push” for four plays against the Colts. He converted 3rd-and-1 on each of his first two attempts, but was stuffed for no gain on each of his final two attempts, resulting in a net total of three yards.

Stover also caught two passes for 16 yards from Stroud in the Texans’ win.

Quick Hits

  • Chris Olave scored his fifth touchdown of the season – tying his career-high for a season – on a 17-yard catch in the New Orleans Saints’ loss to the Miami Dolphins.
  • Chase Young recorded his fifth sack in just seven games this season as one of two tackles for loss in the Saints’ loss to the Dolphins.
  • Quinshon Judkins had 23 carries for 91 yards, three catches for 18 yards and ran for a 2-point conversion after the Cleveland Browns’ only touchdown in their 26-8 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
  • Jonathon Cooper recorded a season-high six tackles, including one tackle for loss – and drew a holding penalty against Commanders right tackle Josh Conerly Jr. that wiped out what would have been a 30-yard touchdown pass to McLaurin – in the Broncos’ win over the Commanders.
  • Cameron Heyward and Malik Harrison each recorded a season-high eight tackles, with Heyward also recording two tackles for loss, in the Steelers’ loss to the Bills.
  • Emeka Egbuka and Marvin Harrison Jr., both members of Ohio State’s 2021 recruiting class who became star receivers for the Buckeyes and are now the top wide receivers for their respective NFL teams, exchanged jerseys after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 20-17 win over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. Egubka had four catches for 42 yards for the Buccaneers while Harrison had six catches for 69 yards for the Cardinals.
  • TreVeyon Henderson led the New England Patriots with 67 rushing yards, highlighted by a 26-yard gain, in their Monday Night Football win over the New York Giants.
  • Thayer Munford made his season debut as he played six snaps as a sixth offensive lineman for the Patriots in their win over the Giants.
  • Josh Simmons dislocated and fractured his wrist in the Kansas City Chiefs’ Thanksgiving loss to the Dallas Cowboys, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Monday that Simmons “is getting a second evaluation on his wrist, and we’ll see what goes from there.”
  • The Rams signed Nick Vannett off the Vikings’ practice squad.
  • The Buffalo Bills placed Curtis Samuel on injured reserve with elbow and knee injuries.

Week 13 Stats

Week 13 and season stats for every Buckeye around the NFL can be found in the table below compiled by Eleven Warriors researcher Matt Gutridge. The table only includes players who have been on an active roster for at least one game this season and who finished their college careers at Ohio State.

Buckeyes Around the NFL
PLAYER POSITION TEAM WEEK 13 STATS SEASON STATS
ELI APPLE CB 49ERS Practice squad  
DAMON ARNETTE CB TEXANS Practice squad 3 tackles
JEROME BAKER LB BROWNS 2 tackles 24 tackles, 1.5 sacks (11.5 yards), 2 TFL, 1 QB hit, 1 FF
JOEY BOSA DE BILLS 2 tackles, 1 sack (9 yards), 1 FF 26 tackles, 5 sacks (40 yards), 8 TFL, 15 QB hits, 5 FF
NICK BOSA DE 49ERS Injured reserve (knee) 17 tackles, 2 sacks (9 yards), 4 TFL, 3 QB hits, 2 FF, 1 FR
NOAH BROWN WR COMMANDERS Injured reserve (groin) 3 catches, 36 yards
BARON BROWNING LB CARDINALS 4 tackles 20 tackles, 2 sacks (13 yards), 3 TFL, 5 QB hits, 1 INT, 1 PD, 1 FR
DENZEL BURKE CB CARDINALS 2 tackles 29 tackles, 1 TFL, 2 INT, 7 PD
PARRIS CAMPBELL WR COWBOYS Practice squad 1 tackle
JONATHON COOPER LB BRONCOS 6 tackles, 1 TFL 39 tackles, 7.5 sacks (53.5 yards), 8 TFL, 12 QB hits, 4 PD
TAYLOR DECKER OT LIONS Started at LT 10 starts at LT
J.K. DOBBINS RB BRONCOS Injured reserve (foot) 153 carries, 772 yards, 4 TD; 11 catches, 37 yards
EMEKA EGBUKA WR BUCCANEERS 4 catches, 42 yards 52 catches, 791 yards, 6 TD; 2 carries, 9 yards
TOMMY EICHENBERG LB RAIDERS 1 tackle 17 tackles
LUKE FARRELL TE 49ERS Played at TE 11 catches, 85 yards, 2 TD; 2 tackles
JUSTIN FIELDS QB JETS Did not play 128/204, 1,259 yards, 7 TD, 1 INT; 71 carries, 383 yards, 4 TD
JOSH FRYAR OL CARDINALS Played at OL 7 games played; 1 start at OL
JORDAN FULLER S FALCONS Played on special teams 1 tackle
MIKE HALL JR. DT BROWNS 1 tackle 6 tackles, 1.5 sack (13 yards), 2 TFL, 4 QB hits
DAVON HAMILTON DT JAGUARS 1 tackle 26 tackles, 1 sack (7 yards), 2 TFL, 3 QB hits
TY HAMILTON DT RAMS 2 tackles 8 tackles, 1 QB hit
JORDAN HANCOCK S BILLS 2 tackles 11 tackles
MALIK HARRISON LB STEELERS 8 tackles 24 tackles, 1 TFL
ZACH HARRISON DL FALCONS Injured reserve (knee) 22 tackles, 4.5 sacks (16.5 yards), 5 TFL, 5 QB hits, 2 FF, 1 PD
MARVIN HARRISON JR. WR CARDINALS 6 catches, 69 yards 40 catches, 594 yards, 4 TD
TREVEYON HENDERSON RB PATRIOTS 11 carries, 67 yards; 3 catches, 19 yards 129 carries, 625 yards, 5 TD; 32 catches, 199 yards, 1 TD; 9 KR, 209 yards
CAMERON HEYWARD DT STEELERS 8 tackles, 2 TFL 52 tackles, 1.5 sacks (4 yards), 5 TFL, 5 QB hits, 6 PD, 1 FF
RONNIE HICKMAN S BROWNS 8 tackles, 1 PD 79 tackles, 1 TFL, 2 INT, 4 PD
JALYN HOLMES DE COMMANDERS Inactive 15 tackles, 1 QB hit
MALIK HOOKER S COWBOYS 1 tackle 29 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 PD
WILL HOWARD QB STEELERS Inactive  
DONOVAN JACKSON OL VIKINGS Inactive 9 starts at LG
JONAH JACKSON OG BEARS Started at RG 12 starts at RG
PARIS JOHNSON JR. OL CARDINALS Started at LT 11 starts at LT
CAMERON JOHNSTON P BILLS Released 7 punts, 44.0 average, 2 inside 20
DAWAND JONES OT BROWNS Injured reserve (knee) 2 starts at LT, 1 start at RT
DRE'MONT JONES DE RAVENS Played at DE 31 tackles, 6 sacks (39 yards), 6 TFL, 15 QB hits, 1 PD, 1 FR
MICHAEL JORDAN LG BUCCANEERS Did not play 5 starts at LG, 6 games played
QUINSHON JUDKINS RB BROWNS 23 carries, 91 yards; 3 catches, 18 yards; 2-point conversion run 196 carries, 758 yards, 7 TD; 17 catches, 88 yards
MARSHON LATTIMORE CB COMMANDERS Injured reserve (knee) 27 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 INT, 7 PD, 1 FR
TYQUAN LEWIS DT COLTS Played at DE 8 tackles, 3 sacks (18 yards), 4 TFL, 3 QB hits, 1 PD
LIAM McCULLOUGH LS FALCONS 1 tackle 12 games played at LS; 1 tackle
TERRY McLAURIN WR COMMANDERS 7 catches, 96 yards, 1 TD 20 catches, 299 yards, 2TD
JAKE McQUAIDE LS RAMS Played at LS 4 games played at LS
THAYER MUNFORD OT PATRIOTS Played at LT 1 game played
JOSH MYERS C JETS Started at C 12 starts at C
JEFF OKUDAH CB VIKINGS Injured reserve (concussion) 14 tackles, 1 FR
CHRIS OLAVE WR SAINTS 4 catches, 47 yards, 1 TD 73 catches, 781 yards, 5 TD; 1 carry, -3 yards; 0/1 passing, 1 INT
LATHAN RANSOM S PANTHERS 11 tackles, 1 sack (8 yards) 45 tackles, 1 sack (8 yards), 2 TFL, 1 QB hit, 1 FF
JEREMY RUCKERT TE JETS 2 catches, 12 yards 16 catches, 131 yards, 1 TD
CURTIS SAMUEL WR BILLS Injured reserve (elbow, knee) 7 catches, 81 yards, 1 TD; 9 KR, 223 yards; 1 tackle
JACK SAWYER LB STEELERS 1 tackle 22 tackles, 1 sack (9 yards), 2 TFL, 4 QB hits, 1 INT, 3 PD
TREY SERMON RB STEELERS Practice squad 1 tackle
KENDALL SHEFFIELD CB DOLPHINS Practice squad 1 tackle
JOSH SIMMONS OT CHIEFS Started at LT 8 starts at LT
CODY SIMON LB CARDINALS 9 tackles 43 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 PD, 1 FF
JAXON SMITH-NJIGBA WR SEAHAWKS 2 catches, 23 yards 82 catches, 1,336 yards, 7 TD; 6 carries, 37 yards
CADE STOVER TE TEXANS 2 catches, 16 yards; 4 carries, 3 yards 6 catches, 38 yards; 4 carries, 3 yards
C.J. STROUD QB TEXANS 22/35, 276 yards, 1 INT; 1 carry, 0 yards 183/277, 1,978 yards, 11 TD, 6 INT; 30 carries, 189 yards
TOMMY TOGIAI DT TEXANS 4 tackles 31 tackles, 0.5 sack (4.5 yards), 4 TFL, 3 QB hits, 3 PD
JT TUIMOLOAU DE COLTS 2 QB hits 7 tackles, 6 QB hits
NICK VANNETT TE RAMS Played on special teams 1 start, 6 games played
DENZEL WARD CB BROWNS 1 tackle 34 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 INT, 8 PD
PETE WERNER LB SAINTS 4 tackles 66 tackles, 2 sacks (1 yard), 4 TFL, 3 QB hits, 4 PD, 2 FR
TYLEIK WILLIAMS DL LIONS 1 tackle, 1 QB hit 13 tackles, 1 TFL, 2 QB hits, 3 PD
GARRETT WILSON WR JETS Injured reserve (knee) 36 catches, 395 yards, 4 TD
LUKE WYPLER C BROWNS Played at C 1 start at T, 12 games played
CHASE YOUNG DE SAINTS 2 tackles, 1 sack (4 yards), 2 TFL 19 tackles, 5 sacks (35.5 yards), 5 TFL, 8 QB hits, 3 PD, 1 FF, 1 FR
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