Ohio State Professional Athletes

Ohio State alumni are scattered across NFL injury reports and contract news this preseason — and not all of it is good.

Chris Olave: Historic Contract, Historic Caveat

The biggest Buckeye business of the week came out of New Orleans, where Saints receiver Chris Olave signed a notable contract extension — one that comes with a clause rarely seen in NFL deals. The guarantee language includes a waiver for career-ending concussions, meaning if Olave's career is cut short by a head injury, the Saints are not on the hook for the full guarantee. It's an unusual provision that reflects both the NFL's evolving awareness of head injury risk and Olave's own injury history. The ink was barely dry before New Orleans got a scare: Olave also picked up an injury during practice, though early reports suggest the issue is not expected to be serious.

Nick Bosa and the Knee Watch

In San Francisco, 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa hasn't practiced since August 3 due to pain in his surgically repaired right knee. Head coach Kyle Shanahan expressed hope that Bosa would return to the practice field the following week, but the prolonged absence is a genuine concern for a team counting on its franchise pass rusher to anchor the defense. Bosa is one of the most important players on the roster — every day he's sidelined this preseason tightens the margin for error heading into the regular season.

Josh Simmons: The Chiefs' Blind Side Problem

Kansas City's left tackle situation is murky. Josh Simmons, the Ohio State product tasked with protecting Patrick Mahomes' blind side, has missed more than a week of practice with a back injury, and the timeline for his return remains unclear. The Chiefs are also navigating uncertainty at quarterback — Mahomes is still awaiting full medical clearance following a December knee injury, with Justin Fields waiting in the wings — which makes Simmons' absence even more pointed. Fields, another Buckeye on the roster, has been graded as part of a competitive Chiefs backup QB battle through two preseason games.

TreVeyon Henderson Slips Up in New England

Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson left practice early on Monday, August 24, after slipping on the turf at New England's facility. Henderson was sent for evaluation the following day, with the team assessing his ankle. The slip wasn't a football play gone wrong — it was a wet field issue — but an ankle injury is an ankle injury regardless of the cause, and Henderson's availability for the early regular season is now in question.

Garrett Wilson's Star Keeps Rising in New York

Not all the Buckeye news is injury-tinged. In New York, Jets receiver Garrett Wilson is generating genuine buzz as new offensive coordinator Frank Reich takes over the offense. A glowing Athletic profile on Reich pointed to Wilson as a central piece of the Jets' offensive rebuild, and teammate Adonai Mitchell — set to open the season as the No. 2 receiver alongside Wilson — described the duo's potential as "explosive." After years of toiling in a dysfunctional Jets offense, Wilson finally appears to have a coordinator who knows how to deploy him.

Elsewhere

Raiders wide receiver Noah Brown was released by Las Vegas this week, making him a free agent. Brown appeared in 78 NFL games over his career but couldn't hold a spot on the roster as the Raiders reshaped their receiver room.

Training camp is supposed to be about building momentum. For several Ohio State alumni, it's been about managing chaos.

Stroud Absorbs Another Blow in Houston

C.J. Stroud enters 2026 under pressure, and the situation around him isn't getting easier. The Texans already ranked poorly in ESPN's offensive line ratings — a genuine structural concern for a quarterback who needs time to operate — and it got worse when second-year wide receiver Jayden Higgins, one of Stroud's top young targets, tore his ACL and was ruled out for the season. Houston responded by signing veteran quarterback Brett Rypien as an emergency backup after rookie Graham Mertz also suffered a season-ending injury, leaving the depth chart threadbare.

On the brighter side, Stroud did lead the Texans to a touchdown on his lone preseason series against the Raiders, flashing the efficiency that makes him worth backing as an AFC South favorite despite the organizational turbulence. Still, at least one long-shot scenario floating around league circles envisions this all going sideways fast enough to put Stroud's future in Houston in question. He has the talent to silence those takes — but the infrastructure around him needs to hold up.

Bosa Progressing, But No Timeline Yet

Nick Bosa has been sidelined since August 3 with soreness and tendinitis in his surgically repaired right knee, a situation that would alarm any 49ers fan. The good news: coach Kyle Shanahan said Bosa is "making a lot of progress" in rehab, and the team received a positive update as Bosa took meaningful steps toward a return. No timeline has been set, but the tone coming out of San Francisco is cautiously optimistic rather than alarmed.

Olave's Roller Coaster Week

Chris Olave gave Saints fans a scare when he exited a joint practice with the Cowboys early. The relief came quickly — Olave returned to practice the following day, suggesting the absence was precautionary. For a Saints receiving corps that needs him healthy, the quick turnaround was welcomed news.

Egbuka's Status Draws Concern

Emeka Egbuka's injury update out of Tampa Bay's camp was described as "a bit concerning" — not a red-alert situation, but enough to warrant watching as the Buccaneers build out their receiver room. The former Buckeye was positioned to carve out a meaningful role in his second season; any setback in camp complicates that trajectory.

Judkins Navigating Nagging Injury in Cleveland

Browns running back Quinshon Judkins has missed practice days with what coach Todd Monken called a "nagging" injury, though Cleveland isn't treating it as a serious threat to his availability. The team is being cautious, which is the prudent call for a back with significant expectations in Cleveland's backfield.

Wilson Sidelined, Henderson Facing a Timeshare

Garrett Wilson missed Jets practice dealing with an illness — not an injury concern, but enough to knock him off the field during a stretch when preseason reps matter. Meanwhile in New England, TreVeyon Henderson will reportedly split backfield duties with Rhamondre Stevenson in what the Patriots are framing as a near-even split. For a back who generated real buzz entering camp, a 50-50 platoon dampens the ceiling considerably — at least in the short term.

One More Buckeye Down

In Atlanta, running back Trey Sermon was placed on injured reserve, ending his camp before it could get started. It's a tough break for one of the longer-tenured Ohio State alumni still bouncing around NFL rosters.

Ohio State's NFL alumni class is generating plenty of noise before a regular-season snap has been taken, and not all of it is good. Three storylines in particular define the Buckeyes' preseason week: a knee scare for San Francisco's franchise pass-rusher, a toe injury scare for Tampa Bay's ascending receiver, and a deeply personal reflection from Washington's veteran wideout.

Nick Bosa: Week-to-Week With Knee Tendinitis

The most alarming update belongs to 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa, who was diagnosed with tendinitis in his surgically repaired right knee and is considered week-to-week, per head coach Kyle Shanahan. Shanahan attempted to downplay the concern, calling the condition "normal" for a player still working back from ACL reconstruction, but the week-to-week designation keeps Bosa off the practice field at a time when San Francisco needs him building rhythm. For a player of Bosa's caliber — and given the significance of the knee in question — even a routine-sounding setback carries weight heading into the regular season.

Emeka Egbuka: Toe Scare, But Dodges Serious Damage

First-year Buccaneer Emeka Egbuka gave Tampa Bay a brief scare when he limped off the field during a joint practice with the Jets on Wednesday. Head coach Todd Bowles offered no immediate update on the sideline, but subsequent reporting indicated the rookie wideout avoided serious injury — the issue described as minor. Egbuka, a first-round pick out of Columbus, is competing for a starting role in the Buccaneers' offense. Any missed time during the preseason evaluation window is notable, even if the prognosis looks encouraging.

Terry McLaurin: Processing the Hardest Year of His Life

Away from the injury wire, Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin offered some of the most candid words heard out of any Ohio State alum this preseason. Speaking publicly ahead of the 2026 season, McLaurin called 2025 "the hardest year of my life," citing both contract difficulties and on-field injuries as part of an "extremely challenging" stretch. That McLaurin is entering camp with a smile despite everything is a testament to his resilience — and a reminder that the personal toll of NFL negotiations rarely gets the coverage it deserves. The veteran wideout remains a key piece of Washington's offense and appears motivated to put the turbulence firmly behind him.

Around the Buckeye Diaspora

Elsewhere, fellow Buckeye and Commanders offensive tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere surfaced in the news as a potential replacement option at left tackle should Washington need to cover for the injured Laremy Tunsil. It's an opportunity-in-waiting for the former third-round pick.

In Kansas City, Justin Fields drew the start against the Rams in a preseason tune-up — a sign the Chiefs are at least curious about what their backup QB situation looks like with a former five-star Ohio State signal-caller in the mix.

And in Seattle, head coach Mike Macdonald confirmed that "established starters" — a group that includes Buckeye wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba — won't play in the Seahawks' preseason game against the Cowboys, preserving his health for when it matters.

With the regular season approaching, Ohio State's NFL footprint remains enormous. The coming weeks will reveal which Buckeyes are ready to deliver on that pedigree — and which are still working their way back.

Ohio State alumni are scattered across 32 NFL rosters, but this week a handful of Buckeyes commanded the biggest headlines of the offseason — from a record-breaking contract in Cleveland to a comeback story unfolding in Santa Clara.

Bosa Bets on Himself After Third ACL

Nick Bosa is already one of the most decorated pass rushers of his generation, but the 49ers star is writing a new chapter in his story this offseason. Bosa opened up about recovering from a torn ACL — his third — that held him to just three appearances in 2025, and the message out of San Francisco is striking: he believes he's coming back faster. Bosa shared details from his surgery and described listening closely to his body's signals during rehab, framing the injury not as a setback but as a reset. For a player who defined San Francisco's defensive identity, the optimism matters — but the proof will come when the pads go on.

Ward Gets Paid — and Questioned

Across the league, Denzel Ward is now officially the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history after the Cleveland Browns locked him up with a record-setting contract extension. The deal drew immediate debate: Yahoo Sports broke down whether Cleveland will eventually regret the commitment, noting that Ward has been excellent when healthy but has battled durability questions throughout his career. For Browns fans, the extension signals a belief that Ward's elite ceiling — when he's on the field — is worth the investment. It's a polarizing bet, but one the franchise clearly felt it had to make.

Harrison Jr. Running Out of Runway in Arizona

No Ohio State alum faces higher stakes this season than Marvin Harrison Jr. The Cardinals wideout, taken fourth overall in 2024, is entering Year 3 with his early-career trajectory under a microscope. The Sporting News placed Harrison Jr. among the 2024 draft class members facing the most pressure to deliver in 2026, noting that his first two seasons have landed closer to bust territory than the generational talent projections that preceded him. Harrison Jr. has the bloodlines — his father is a Hall of Famer — and the skill set. What he hasn't had yet is production that matches the draft capital Arizona spent. This season is the line in the sand.

Sonny Styles Turning Heads in D.C.

The quieter Buckeye story this week comes out of Washington. Sonny Styles, the versatile Ohio State product now with the Commanders, was called out as one of the standout performers in early Washington training camp practices, per Yahoo Sports. He's competing in a loaded defensive room, but his early camp showing suggests he's not just along for the ride. Teammate Terry McLaurin — another Buckeye mainstay — continues to anchor the Commanders' receiver corps, with Washington adding Stefon Diggs this offseason to further arm quarterback Jayden Daniels.

Around the League

Elsewhere, the 49ers waived cornerback Eli Apple, ending his tenure in San Francisco. Apple's release is a quiet footnote for a player who has cycled through multiple NFL stops since leaving Columbus. Meanwhile, C.J. Stroud and the Texans got a boost as receiver Tank Dell returned to practice after missing all of 2025 with a serious knee injury — good news for a quarterback who thrives with weapons around him.