Chase Young scored the first touchdown of his NFL career in spectacular fashion, Denzel Ward shut down three straight plays to secure a win for the Cleveland Browns, Jack Sawyer picked off Shedeur Sanders for the second interception of his rookie season and Chris Olave topped 100 receiving yards and found the end zone for the second week in a row.
Other highlights for former Ohio State players in the penultimate week of the 2025 NFL regular season included a highly productive game for Cody Simon, a booming hit from Tommy Eichenberg and a hot start for C.J. Stroud that led the Houston Texans to a playoff-clinching win.
We recap it all in Across The Shield, Eleven Warriors’ weekly look at how Ohio State players are performing throughout the NFL.
Young steals and scores for first NFL touchdown
Chase Young scored his first touchdown since high school on Sunday, and he was responsible for every part of the play.
The former Ohio State defensive end rushed around the outside of Tennessee Titans left tackle Dan Moore Jr., hit Titans quarterback Cam Ward from behind and stole the ball out of Ward’s hands in the process, then ran the ball all the way back to the end zone for a 33-yard score.
CHASE YOUNG TO THE HOUSE!!! @OhioStateFB | : FOX pic.twitter.com/dvmHj8GEjq
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) December 28, 2025
The touchdown was the first as a pro for Young, who also never scored a touchdown during his All-American career at Ohio State but had two during his senior year at DeMatha Catholic High School. It came as part of a 1.5-sack day for Young, who now has a career-high 8.5 sacks in just 11 games this season.
https://t.co/5mOZ7qECDL pic.twitter.com/g2FiiYhbne
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) December 28, 2025
Young’s steal-and-score led to a comeback win for the New Orleans Saints, who were down 13-3 before his touchdown but ended up defeating the Titans, 34-26, for their fourth straight win. His touchdown, which also counted as one of four tackles and two quarterback hits on the day for Young, earned him our Pro Buck of the Week award as Ohio State’s top NFL performer of Week 17.
| 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 |
| 14 | Texans DT Tommy Togiai | 10 tackles, 1 sack, 2 QB hits |
| 15 | Patriots RB TreVeyon Henderson | 14 carries, 148 yards, 2 TD; 2 catches, 13 yards |
| 16 | Saints WR Chris Olave | 10 catches, 148 yards, 2 TD |
| 17 | Saints DE Chase Young | 4 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1 FF, 1 FR, 1 TD, 2 QB hits |
Ward secures win for Browns
Trailing 13-6 with less than 30 seconds to play against the Cleveland Browns, Aaron Rodgers attempted to throw a touchdown pass to Marquez Valdes-Scantling on three straight plays. Thanks to Denzel Ward, all three plays resulted in an incompletion.
Ward was credited with a pass breakup on fourth-and-goal, sealing the Browns’ fourth victory of the season.
The Warden always keeps it locked down #PITvsCLE on CBS and NFL+ pic.twitter.com/BpoIecW8nf
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) December 28, 2025
The former Ohio State cornerback, who was named a Pro Bowler last week for the third consecutive year, questioned after the game why the Steelers would choose to throw the ball in his direction three straight times with the game on the line.
#Browns Denzel Ward: I dont know whose bright idea it was to try me for the game on three plays in a row. pic.twitter.com/IcGMpaRuol
— Ashley Bastock (@AshleyBastock42) December 28, 2025
Sawyer picks off Sanders for second NFL interception
Jack Sawyer made his second interception of his NFL rookie season in his home state of Ohio.
Sawyer, who made his only interception as a Buckeye in Ohio State’s 2024 loss to Michigan, made the second interception of his NFL career in the Steelers’ loss to Cleveland, picking off Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders after a hit by fellow Pittsburgh outside linebacker Alex Highsmith. He celebrated his interception by throwing up an O-H to the Cleveland crowd.
.@jacksawyer33 with the INT
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 28, 2025
: #PITvsCLE on @paramountplus pic.twitter.com/vJBrOM80tw
Sawyer also recorded two tackles in the Steelers’ loss, bringing him to 33 total tackles with four total passes defensed in his first NFL season.
Olave tops 100 for second straight week
Chase Young wasn’t the only Buckeye to have a big game for the Saints in Week 17 as Chris Olave had his second straight 100-yard game while scoring his fourth touchdown in three weeks.
Olave caught eight passes for 119 yards, the second-most of any NFL player in Week 17, in the Saints’ win over the Titans. After scoring two touchdowns in the Saints’ Week 16 win over the Jets, Olave found the end zone again as he caught a 19-yard touchdown pass from Tyler Shough.
9th receiving touchdown of the season for @chrisolave_!
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) December 28, 2025
CBS pic.twitter.com/aD8O3yoy2b
Later in the game, Olave turned a deep ball from Shough into a 60-yard catch, setting up a go-ahead touchdown for the Saints two plays later, on which New Orleans took its first lead of the game and never trailed again.
Six 12's
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) December 28, 2025
CBS pic.twitter.com/mN6zjIiCTb
The 60-yard catch was the 100th reception of the season for Olave. The former Ohio State receiver now has 100 catches for 1,163 yards and nine touchdowns for the year, all of which are career-highs for Olave in his fourth year in the league.
Simon makes 15 tackles
It was a mostly bad day for the Arizona Cardinals’ defense in their 37-14 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, but Cody Simon was a bright spot.
The rookie linebacker from Ohio State made a whopping 15 tackles, the second-most among NFL players in Week 17, including his first career sack as he took down Joe Burrow on an explosive blitz to the quarterback.
The rookie coming in clutch with the sack.
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) December 28, 2025
:FOX pic.twitter.com/P23rqs0X53
Simon, who made his seventh consecutive start for the Cardinals on Sunday, has now recorded 68 total tackles in his rookie season after he was selected in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL draft.
The Cardinals’ other rookie defender from Ohio State, Denzel Burke, was also productive in defeat, recording six total tackles with one tackle for loss and two pass breakups.
Eichenberg lays the boom on special teams
Another former Ohio State linebacker also made a big impression in Week 17 as Tommy Eichenberg laid one of the week’s biggest hits in the Las Vegas Raiders’ loss to the New York Giants.
On a punt return by Gunner Olszewski early in the third quarter, Eichenberg barreled into the Giants receiver at full speed, knocking him backward with a thundering collision that could be heard on TV.
LISTEN to this hit by Tommy Eichenberg @Raiders pic.twitter.com/aqgUtMKykO
— NFL on CBS (@NFLonCBS) December 28, 2025
Eichenberg also recorded a tackle on the game’s opening kickoff and another tackle on an Olszewski punt return, bringing him to 21 special teams tackles for the season, the third-most in the NFL this year.
LB Tommy Eichenberg is now leading the #Raiders with 21 total special teams tackles in 2025, the third most in the #NFL.
— Raiders PR (@RAIDERS_PR) December 28, 2025
His 21 special teams tackles are the most in a season in #Raiders history since at least 1994.
Eichenberg also recorded two tackles on defense in the Raiders’ 34-10 loss to the Giants, which dropped Las Vegas to 2-14 on the season and put the Raiders in position to have the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft.
Stroud’s hot start leads Texans to playoff-clinching win
C.J. Stroud threw for 142 yards and two touchdowns in the first six minutes of the Houston Texans’ Saturday night game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
On his very first pass attempt of the game, Stroud connected with Jayden Higgins for a 75-yard touchdown.
Just like that
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) December 27, 2025
: @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/jrnzRjNpcx
On the Texans’ second drive, Stroud completed three passes on three attempts for 67 yards, including a 43-yard touchdown connection with Jaylin Noel.
we're coookingg chat!!!
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) December 27, 2025
: @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/itR70SlaiE
Stroud wasn’t quite as sharp for the rest of the game, finishing with 16 completions on 28 attempts for 244 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. But the Chargers were never able to come all the way back from the 14-0 start Stroud led Houston to. The Texans won the game, 20-16, for their eighth straight victory, improving to 11-5 on the season and clinching a playoff berth in the process.
With his two early touchdown passes on Saturday night, Stroud has now thrown 18 touchdown passes this season and 61 touchdown passes in just three NFL seasons, already putting him third in Houston Texans history for the most touchdowns in franchise history.
CJ7 makin HISTORY pic.twitter.com/YBmGJqydtI
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) December 27, 2025
Quick Hits
- Tyleik Williams recorded the first sack of his NFL career in the Detroit Lions’ Christmas Day loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
- Dre’Mont Jones recorded a season-high six tackles with one quarterback hit in the Baltimore Ravens’ win over the Green Bay Packers.
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba caught nine passes for 72 yards in the Seattle Seahawks’ win over the Carolina Panthers, highlighted by a toe-tapping 18-yard catch just inside the sideline. He enters the final week of the regular season with a league-leading 1,709 yards, the 14th-most in a single season in NFL history.
#SEAHAWKS JAXON SMITH-NJIGBA, WOW:
— HawkMania (@hawkmania4) December 28, 2025
[: NFL on CBS] pic.twitter.com/3SL3bfgbsG
- Jalyn Holmes had five tackles, the most he’s had in a game since 2020, in the Dallas Cowboys’ Christmas Day loss to the Washington Commanders.
- The Kansas City Chiefs signed Tyreke Smith to their active roster from their practice squad.
Week 17 Stats
Week 17 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.
| PLAYER | POSITION | TEAM | WEEK 17 STATS | SEASON STATS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELI APPLE | CB | 49ERS | Practice squad | 1 tackle |
| DAMON ARNETTE | CB | TEXANS | Released | 3 tackles |
| JEROME BAKER | LB | BROWNS | 5 tackles, 1 TFL | 35 tackles, 1.5 sacks (11.5 yards), 3 TFL, 1 QB hit, 1 FF |
| JOEY BOSA | DE | BILLS | 2 tackles, 1 TFL | 29 tackles, 5 sacks (40 yards), 9 TFL, 16 QB hits, 2 PD, 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 (ribs) | 5 catches, 83 yards |
| BARON BROWNING | LB | CARDINALS | 1 tackle | 33 tackles, 2 sacks (13 yards), 4 TFL, 5 QB hits, 1 INT, 1 PD, 1 FR |
| DENZEL BURKE | CB | CARDINALS | 6 tackles, 1 TFL, 2 PD | 43 tackles, 2 TFL, 3 INT, 11 PD |
| PARRIS CAMPBELL | WR | COWBOYS | Practice squad | 1 tackle |
| JONATHON COOPER | LB | BRONCOS | 1 tackle, 1 QB hit | 47 tackles, 8 sacks (59.0 yards), 8 TFL, 14 QB hits, 4 PD |
| TAYLOR DECKER | OT | LIONS | Inactive | 13 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 | 3 catches, 20 yards | 62 catches, 930 yards, 6 TD; 2 carries, 9 yards |
| TOMMY EICHENBERG | LB | RAIDERS | 5 tackles | 30 tackles, 1 TFL |
| LUKE FARRELL | TE | 49ERS | Played at TE | 11 catches, 85 yards, 2 TD; 2 tackles, 1 FR |
| JUSTIN FIELDS | QB | JETS | Injured reserve (knee) | 128/204, 1,259 yards, 7 TD, 1 INT; 71 carries, 383 yards, 4 TD |
| JOSH FRYAR | OL | CARDINALS | Started at LT | 11 games played; 4 starts at OL |
| JORDAN FULLER | S | FALCONS | Practice squad | 2 tackles |
| MIKE HALL JR. | DT | BROWNS | 1 tackle | 10 tackles, 1.5 sacks (13 yards), 2 TFL, 4 QB hits |
| DAVON HAMILTON | DT | JAGUARS | 2 tackles | 35 tackles, 1 sack (7 yards), 3 TFL, 3 QB hits |
| TY HAMILTON | DT | RAMS | 2 tackles | 11 tackles, 1 QB hit |
| JORDAN HANCOCK | S | BILLS | Played on special teams | 17 tackles |
| MALIK HARRISON | LB | STEELERS | 4 tackles, 1 TFL | 36 tackles, 2 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 | 1 target | 41 catches, 608 yards, 4 TD |
| TREVEYON HENDERSON | RB | PATRIOTS | 19 carries, 82 yards | 165 carries, 861 yards, 7 TD; 35 catches, 221 yards, 1 TD; 9 KR, 209 yards |
| CAMERON HEYWARD | DT | STEELERS | 5 tackles, 1 TFL | 71 tackles, 3.5 sacks (16 yards), 9 TFL, 8 QB hits, 6 PD, 1 FF |
| RONNIE HICKMAN | S | BROWNS | 2 tackles | 98 tackles, 1 TFL, 2 INT, 5 PD |
| JALYN HOLMES | DE | COMMANDERS | 5 tackles | 21 tackles, 1 QB hit |
| MALIK HOOKER | S | COWBOYS | 3 tackles | 48 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 PD |
| WILL HOWARD | QB | STEELERS | Inactive | |
| DONOVAN JACKSON | OL | VIKINGS | Started at LG | 13 starts at LG |
| JONAH JACKSON | OG | BEARS | Started at RG | 16 starts at RG |
| PARIS JOHNSON JR. | OL | CARDINALS | Injured reserve (knee) | 12 starts at LT |
| CAMERON JOHNSTON | P | GIANTS | Released | 11 punts, 44.5 average, 2 inside 20 |
| DAWAND JONES | OT | BROWNS | Injured reserve (knee) | 2 starts at LT, 1 start at RT |
| DRE'MONT JONES | DE | RAVENS | 6 tackles, 1 QB hit | 43 tackles, 7 sacks (42 yards), 7 TFL, 24 QB hits, 1 PD, 2 FR |
| MICHAEL JORDAN | LG | BUCCANEERS | Started at LG | 8 starts at LG, 10 games played |
| QUINSHON JUDKINS | RB | BROWNS | Injured reserve (leg) | 230 carries, 827 yards, 7 TD; 26 catches, 171 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 | 10 tackles, 3 sacks (18 yards), 4 TFL, 4 QB hits, 1 PD |
| LIAM McCULLOUGH | LS | FALCONS | Played at LS | 15 games played at LS; 1 tackle |
| TERRY McLAURIN | WR | COMMANDERS | 5 catches, 63 yards | 34 catches, 525 yards, 3 TD, 1 tackle |
| JAKE McQUAIDE | LS | RAMS | Played at LS | 8 games played at LS |
| THAYER MUNFORD | OT | PATRIOTS | Started at OT | 1 start at OT, 4 games played |
| JOSH MYERS | C | JETS | Started at C | 16 starts at C |
| JEFF OKUDAH | CB | VIKINGS | Injured reserve (concussion) | 14 tackles, 1 FR |
| CHRIS OLAVE | WR | SAINTS | 8 catches, 119 yards, 1 TD | 100 catches, 1,163 yards, 9 TD; 1 carry, -3 yards; 0/1 passing, 1 INT |
| LATHAN RANSOM | S | PANTHERS | Played at S | 49 tackles, 1 sack (8 yards), 2 TFL, 1 QB hit, 1 INT, 1 PD, 1 FF |
| JEREMY RUCKERT | TE | JETS | 1 catch, 2 yards | 23 catches, 179 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 | 2 tackles, 1 INT | 33 tackles, 1 sack (9 yards), 3 TFL, 6 QB hits, 2 INT, 4 PD |
| TREY SERMON | RB | STEELERS | Practice squad | 1 tackle |
| KENDALL SHEFFIELD | CB | DOLPHINS | Practice squad | 1 tackle |
| JOSH SIMMONS | OT | CHIEFS | Injured reserve (wrist) | 8 starts at LT |
| CODY SIMON | LB | CARDINALS | 15 tackles, 0.5 sack (4 yards), 1 QB hit | 68 tackles, 0.5 sack (4 yards), 2 TFL, 1 QB hit, 2 PD, 1 FF |
| JAXON SMITH-NJIGBA | WR | SEAHAWKS | 9 catches, 72 yards | 113 catches, 1,709 yards, 10 TD; 7 carries, 36 yards |
| CADE STOVER | TE | TEXANS | Played at TE | 11 catches, 67 yards; 4 carries, 3 yards |
| C.J. STROUD | QB | TEXANS | 16/28, 244 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT; 4 carries, 0 yards | 259/400, 2,872 yards, 18 TD, 8 INT; 46 carries, 204 yards |
| TOMMY TOGIAI | DT | TEXANS | 4 tackles | 55 tackles, 1.5 sacks (13.5 yards), 5 TFL, 5 QB hits, 3 PD |
| JT TUIMOLOAU | DE | COLTS | Inactive | 16 tackles, 1 TFL, 6 QB hits |
| NICK VANNETT | TE | RAMS | Played at TE | 1 start, 9 games played |
| DENZEL WARD | CB | BROWNS | 1 tackle, 1 PD | 39 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 INT, 9 PD |
| PETE WERNER | LB | SAINTS | 5 tackles | 79 tackles, 2 sacks (1 yard), 4 TFL, 3 QB hits, 5 PD, 3 FR |
| TYLEIK WILLIAMS | DT | LIONS | 1 sack | 17 tackles, 1 sack, 1 TFL, 3 QB hits, 3 PD |
| GARRETT WILSON | WR | JETS | Injured reserve (knee) | 36 catches, 395 yards, 4 TD |
| LUKE WYPLER | C | BROWNS | Started at C | 3 starts at C, 1 start at T, 16 games played, 1 tackle |
| CHASE YOUNG | DE | SAINTS | 4 tackles, 1.5 sacks (15 yards), 1 TFL, 2 QB hits, 1 FF, 1 FR, 1 TD | 32 tackles, 8.5 sacks (72.5 yards), 9 TFL, 13 QB hits, 3 PD, 2 FF, 3 FR, 1 TD |
