The Ohio State football team had many former players shine during Week 1 of the NFL season. Here is a recap of the Buckeyes in action:

The first week of NFL action concluded last night following a thriller between Denver and Seattle. This opening slate featured many wild finishes and shocking outcomes. However, what was not surprising was the 28+ former Buckeyes who saw action. Some of their top performances were the following:

Michael Thomas:

-After not playing in 2021 due to injury, it seems the dangerous MT may be back. He hauled in 5 receptions for 57 yards and 2 touchdowns. His catches were crucial in the late game, comeback win for the Saints.

Chris Olave:

-Despite not cracking the top 3 WRs on the Saints’ initial depth chart, it appears Olave will be a primary piece of the offense. He saw 3 targets and caught them all for 41 yards. While not able to put up huge numbers, he proved himself as a reliable target for Jameis Winston.

Pete Werner:

-Werner led the Saints defense with 13 tackles on Sunday, including a tackle-for-loss and a forced fumble. He has been a constant for the Saints’ LB core since entering the league in 2021.

Curtis Samuel:

-The Commanders have a Big Ten riddled WR core for their new QB Carson Wentz, but Curtis Samuel led the way. His opportunities and usage looked a lot like how San Fran uses Deebo Samuel. Curtis hauled in 8 of 11 targets for 55 yards and a touchdown, and also attempted 4 rushes for 17 yards.

Terry McLaurin:

-Scary Terry is usually the leading WR for the Commanders, however, he only saw 4 targets on Sunday. He did maximize those opportunities hauling in 2 catches for 58 yards and a touchdown.

Garrett Wilson:

-Like fellow rookie Olave, Wilson didn’t appear as a starting WR on the initial Jets depth chart. However, he did see 8 targets and caught 4 balls for 52 yards despite the losing effort against the Ravens. He also had a highlight play, which included juking out three Ravens on his way to a first down.

Cameron Heyward:

-The hard-nosed Defensive Tackle was part of the Steelers line that plagued the Bengals’ offensive line on Sunday. Heyward only recorded 2 tackles, but recovered a fumble and recorded a sack.

Justin Fields:

-Justin’s week 1 performance might not be all that impressive on paper. However, his 121 passing yards and 2 touchdowns were part of the gritty win over the 49ers. He led the Bears to victory despite the monsoon-like conditions and extreme flooding on Soldier Field. Despite the Bears’ management failing to place stars around him, he continues to put it all on the line.

For all Ohio State fans who can’t get enough action on Saturdays, former Buckeyes continue to provide excellent product on Sundays.

 

Featured Image: Ashlee Rezin, Sun-Times