Ohio State Professional Athletes

Ohio State's NFL alumni had one of their more turbulent weeks of the season — a blockbuster trade, a breakout performance, and a significant injury loss all in the span of a few days.

Marvin Harrison Jr. Is Out of Arizona

The biggest story in the NFL this week has Ohio State fingerprints all over it. The Arizona Cardinals are trading Marvin Harrison Jr. — the fourth-overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft — but in a bizarre twist, they hadn't publicly revealed the destination as of mid-week. Harrison was declared inactive for Arizona's Week 5 game against Detroit, and the Cardinals took heat from franchise legends and fans alike for the handling of the situation.

Harrison's time in Arizona ends without the breakout his pedigree promised. He managed just one reception for 12 yards and a touchdown in Week 4's loss to the Giants — a stat line that encapsulates the disconnect. Among the reported suitors: the Houston Texans emerged as frontrunners according to league executives, while the Kansas City Chiefs were largely ruled out. The Lions, Ravens, and an AFC South rival of the Colts also surfaced in various reports. Wherever he lands, the expectation is that a change of scenery could unlock the receiver who was once regarded as a generational prospect.

Cardinals fans aren't the only ones watching closely — fellow Buckeye Paris Johnson Jr. remains in Arizona's offensive line room, and the Harrison trade reshuffles the team's entire offensive identity.

Carnell Tate's Breakout Moment

While Harrison's Cardinals tenure imploded, another Ohio State wideout was busy writing a very different story. Titans rookie Carnell Tate turned in his first career 100-yard receiving game against the Ravens on Sunday, hauling in 9 of his 12 targets for 145 yards. The performance made history for Tate as a pro, with his 145-yard outing representing the most productive day of his young career. Tennessee lost the game, but Tate gave Titans fans a genuine reason for optimism. The former Buckeye is starting to look like the legitimate No. 1 option Tennessee envisioned when they drafted him.

Donovan Jackson Heads to IR

The week's bad news arrived Tuesday when the Vikings placed guard Donovan Jackson on injured reserve. The move came in the wake of a knee injury Jackson suffered in Minnesota's Week 5 win over Miami — a game the Vikings took 15-10. IR designation signals the injury is serious enough to sideline Jackson for a significant stretch. The second-year lineman had been a developing piece of Minnesota's offensive line, making this a meaningful blow for the Vikings' interior.

Around the Rest of the Alumni Network

Chris Olave quietly turned in a strong Monday night performance for the Saints, catching 8 passes for 116 yards in a 45-24 blowout loss to Atlanta — a productive evening buried in an ugly result. C.J. Stroud continued to show out for Houston despite a Week 4 loss to Dallas, throwing for 347 yards and two touchdowns. Emeka Egbuka contributed a rushing touchdown and 38 receiving yards as Tampa Bay topped Dallas on Thursday. And Jaxon Smith-Njigba stayed steady with 5 catches for 76 yards in Seattle's win over the Chargers.

Ohio State's NFL footprint was impossible to ignore in Week 4. From a historic milestone in Seattle to trade-rumor turbulence in Arizona, the Buckeyes had alumni making headlines across the league.

JSN Makes Seahawks History

Jaxon Smith-Njigba's ascent in Seattle has moved from promising to historic. The Seahawks announced a major milestone for their star wideout amid what the team is calling a "hot start" to the 2026 season. The former Buckeye, still just entering his prime, has established himself as one of the most productive young pass-catchers in the NFC West — the kind of player franchise cornerstones are built around. Details of the specific milestone were announced by the team, underscoring just how quickly JSN has elevated beyond his draft pedigree.

Olave Cementing No. 1 Status

Down in New Orleans, Chris Olave is making a strong case for his most complete season yet. In the Saints' Week 3 loss to the Raiders (27-35), Olave hauled in 9 receptions for 107 yards, continuing a blistering pace that has scouts and opponents alike taking notice. He enters Week 4's Monday Night Football matchup against the Falcons as the unquestioned focal point of New Orleans' offense — a true No. 1 receiver delivering on that billing every week. The Saints are 1-2 and need wins; Olave is the clearest path to getting them.

Harrison Jr. Trade Drama Hits a Wall

Marvin Harrison Jr.'s rookie season in Arizona has been anything but the coronation many expected. Through three weeks, the No. 4 overall pick has managed just 3 catches for 40 yards against San Francisco in Week 3, and the trade rumor cycle that followed was swift and loud. The noise, however, appears to have hit a ceiling: anonymous NFL executives told The Athletic that multiple sources who have studied his 2026 tape "do not see a receiver playing with" the kind of value his draft slot implied — a brutal assessment. Cardinals QB Jacoby Brissett has publicly defended his wideout, and Arizona's locker room hasn't abandoned him, but the slow start has produced real organizational discomfort heading into Week 4 against the Giants.

Hooker Trending Toward Return

The Cowboys' defensive injury situation is grim, but Malik Hooker offered a sliver of hope after returning to practice mid-week. Dallas confirmed he was trending toward availability for Week 4 — welcome news for a defense that has been ravaged by attrition. Per Pro Football Talk, Hooker was removed from the injury report and cleared to play, providing veteran stability in a secondary that needed it badly.

Judkins and Young Shine on Thursday Night

The Browns' Thursday night win over Pittsburgh (27-24) gave Quinshon Judkins a prime-time stage, and he delivered: 53 rushing yards, a rushing touchdown, and 6 catches for 43 yards out of the backfield — a complete performance that underscored his value as a dual-threat weapon in Cleveland's offense. Denzel Ward added an interception, and Mike Hall Jr. chipped in a sack to round out a strong night for Ohio State's presence on the Cleveland roster.

Over in New Orleans, Chase Young continues to be a disruptive force off the edge — he recorded 2 sacks in the Saints' Week 3 loss to the Raiders, reminding the league that his motor hasn't slowed. The Saints may be struggling, but Young has been a consistent bright spot on defense.

Elsewhere, Carnell Tate (6 rec, 58 yards for Tennessee) and Emeka Egbuka (5 rec, 62 yards for Tampa Bay) both turned in respectable outings, while C.J. Stroud and the Texans fell to 0-3 after a 17-19 loss to Indianapolis — a troubling start that now requires a historic comeback just to reach the playoffs.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba Is That Guy

If there was any remaining doubt about Jaxon Smith-Njigba's status as a genuine WR1, he buried it Sunday. The Seahawks receiver torched Arizona for 9 catches, 155 yards, and 3 touchdowns in Seattle's 31-7 dismantling of the Cardinals — a performance that was equal parts breathtaking and complete. JSN did it all: winning underneath, stretching the field, and finishing in the end zone three times. Against an Arizona secondary that includes fellow Buckeye Denzel Burke, no less. It was the kind of line that makes fantasy managers feel like geniuses and Cardinals defensive coordinators feel like frauds.

Nick Bosa's Calf and a 49ers Crisis

While Smith-Njigba was lighting up the scoreboard, fellow Ohio State alum Nick Bosa was being ruled out entirely — and the circumstances were almost comically unfortunate. According to 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan, Bosa suffered the calf injury doing high knees during warm-ups before San Francisco's Week 3 matchup. Shanahan called the pattern of injuries genuinely unusual. The 49ers won the game 35-13 over Miami without him, but the bigger concern is what comes next: Bosa is expected to miss additional time, the team worked out four pass rushers including Matt Judon, and league observers have already flagged two upcoming games as significantly harder to win without him. San Francisco has the talent to weather a short-term absence — but Bosa is not a player you simply replace.

Marvin Harrison Jr. and the Whisper Network

The same Cardinals game that showcased JSN's brilliance exposed a growing crisis at the other end. Marvin Harrison Jr., the former No. 4 overall pick, was held without a notable stat line in the 31-7 loss, and the quiet performance is feeding a loud conversation. According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, Harrison Jr. is "a big talking point" among NFL executives and described as a "major surprise" for the wrong reasons. Trade rumors are swirling, though at least one insider has cautioned that Arizona dealing him remains unlikely in the near term. Still, when your name is attached to words like "expendable" and "slow start" in only your second season, the pressure is real.

Around the Buckeye League

The supporting cast had a mixed week. TreVeyon Henderson was a bright spot for New England, rushing for 76 yards and a touchdown in the Patriots' 20-3 win over Pittsburgh — a game in which fellow Buckeyes Jack Sawyer and Cameron Heyward were on the losing side for the Steelers. C.J. Stroud had a rough afternoon for Houston, throwing for 353 yards but failing to generate points in a 20-6 loss to Cincinnati — a performance that made NFL history for the wrong reasons, per Sports Illustrated. Terry McLaurin managed just 2 catches for 50 yards as Washington fell to Dallas 37-20. J.K. Dobbins contributed 36 rushing yards in Denver's 20-13 win over Jacksonville. And Jordan Hancock, who made the Bills' roster out of the Ohio State pipeline, was placed on injured reserve after an injury setback — a tough blow for a young DB trying to establish himself in Buffalo.

It was, in short, a week that had everything: a star ascending, a star sidelined, and another star at an uncomfortable crossroads.

Ohio State's NFL footprint was impossible to miss in Week 1. From a record-setting wideout in New Orleans to a pair of rookies making immediate impressions on opposite sides of the ball, the Buckeyes put the league on notice.

Olave Puts on a Clinic

The headliner wasn't close. Chris Olave turned in the performance of the week in the Saints' narrow 31-30 loss to the Lions, hauling in 10 catches for 182 yards — a display that Yahoo Sports named worthy of game MVP honors. The showing was a direct answer to anyone who questioned the contract extension he received in the offseason. Olave was already dealing with a questionable tag heading into the week, making the performance all the more remarkable. He's now listed questionable again for Week 2 at Baltimore, though he did practice Friday and made the trip with the team — which is at least a good sign for Saints fans who just watched him look unstoppable.

Sonny Styles, Instant Impact

Washington used the 24-22 loss to Philadelphia as a proving ground for first-round pick Sonny Styles, who played 48 snaps in his NFL debut and came away with two pressures, one sack, one hurry, two tackles, and a 48.6 PFF grade. The numbers alone wouldn't necessarily move the needle — but the market noticed. Fox Sports reported that Styles surged in Defensive Rookie of the Year odds following the performance, even as David Bailey held firm as the favorite. Heavy Sports noted that Styles received a candid, encouraging message about his debut from within the league. The former Buckeye linebacker looks like the real deal early.

It's worth noting that fellow Buckeye Terry McLaurin was on the other sideline for Washington — and had a forgettable day, catching just 2 passes for 14 yards. The $97 million receiver was called out publicly after the loss. A reminder that Week 1 is unforgiving for everyone.

Caleb Downs Steps Into the Spotlight

Dallas's 28-20 loss to the Giants was ugly, but Caleb Downs gave the Cowboys faithful something to hold onto. The rookie safety recorded a tackle in his NFL debut and was candid in a Bleacher Report interview that Sports Illustrated flagged as perhaps saying "too much" about the coaching staff. That kind of candor — and that kind of attention — is reserved for players people are already watching closely.

The Cowboys' safety situation took a grim turn when veteran Malik Hooker suffered an arm injury in the same game and will undergo surgery, per Heavy Sports. Dallas listed Hooker as out for Week 2 against the Commanders. That means Downs won't just be a talking point — he'll be carrying real responsibility immediately.

TreVeyon Henderson: Back and Ready

New England's TreVeyon Henderson missed the start of the season with an injury but was cleared in time for Week 1 action, with the Patriots' Friday injury report listing him as good to go against the Steelers. The former Buckeye running back is set for his first start of the 2026 season, giving New England's backfield a shot of genuine upside.

Around the League

Elsewhere, Emeka Egbuka had a solid debut for Tampa Bay with 5 catches and 63 yards in a 33-27 loss to the Bengals. C.J. Stroud went for 274 yards and 2 touchdowns for Houston in a 36-31 loss to Buffalo. Garrett Wilson posted 6 catches for 79 yards in the Jets' win over Tennessee. And Josh Simmons remains a Week 2 mystery in Kansas City — the offensive tackle's back injury drew frustration from Chiefs fans and scrutiny from around the league as his status continued to linger into the week.

Ohio State's alumni class is enormous, and Week 1 confirmed it can be a weekly story all on its own.