Both of Ohio State’s NFL quarterbacks led their teams to victory in Week 8 as several other Buckeyes had standout performances around the league.
C.J. Stroud and Justin Fields each had one of their best games this season in winning performances, while Terry McLaurin, J.K. Dobbins, Chase Young and TreVeyon Henderson were among the other Buckeyes who had big games in Week 8. We recap all of their performances and more in Across The Shield, Eleven Warriors’ weekly look at how former Ohio State players are performing throughout the NFL.
Stroud sharp vs. San Francisco
C.J. Stroud had his first 300-yard passing game of the season as he completed 30 of 39 passing attempts – also both season-highs – for 318 yards and two touchdowns, leading the Houston Texans to a 26-15 victory over the San Francisco 49ers.
In the midst of what’s been an up-and-down third NFL season for the former Ohio State quarterback, Stroud reminded everyone that he’s one of the league’s most accurate passers when he has time to throw. He had seven passes that went for 17 yards or more on Sunday, including a 44-yard deep ball to Jaylin Noel and a 30-yard touchdown pass to Xavier Hutchinson.
First down factory!
: @nflonfox pic.twitter.com/ySfTXfaF4S
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) October 26, 2025
Catch 19 in the endzone
: @nflonfox pic.twitter.com/1pshF37LQM
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) October 26, 2025
Stroud’s 318 passing yards were the second-most in the NFL for Week 8, behind only Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love, who threw for 360 yards against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
His standout performance earns him our Pro Buck of the Week award as Ohio State’s top NFL performer for Week 8. He’s the second Buckeye to win the award twice this season, joining Emeka Egbuka.
Fields leads Jets to emotional first win
Hours after the New York Jets announced the tragic death of former Jets and Ohio State great Nick Mangold, another former Ohio State great led the Jets to their first win of the season.
Justin Fields’ time as the Jets’ starting quarterback looked as though it could be over when he got benched at halftime of their Week 7 loss to the Carolina Panthers. Two days later, the former Buckeye star was publicly criticized by Jets owner Woody Johnson, who said “it's hard when you have a quarterback with a rating that he's got” and "if we can just complete a pass, it would look good” while talking to reporters at the NFL’s fall owners’ meeting.
But when Tyrod Taylor was ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals due to a knee injury, Fields got his chance to redeem himself. He did so by completing 21 passes on 32 attempts for 244 yards and a touchdown, while also rushing for 31 yards and converting two-point conversions (one via run and one via pass), to lead the Jets to a 39-38 victory.
In the for six @justnfields pic.twitter.com/bD4HXPFdDu
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) October 26, 2025
In an emotional postgame press conference, Fields talked about the toll the week took on him and how he relied on his faith to get him through it, ultimately leading to Sunday’s win in Cincinnati.
"It's been a lot for me emotionally, spiritually. When I was on the field, I was damn near about to start crying, not because we won but because of the goodness of God."
Fields continues, "I'm going to get pretty vulnerable right here. This week I found myself in my closet pic.twitter.com/WrmgPUfmOc
— Jets Videos (@snyjets) October 26, 2025
“It’s been a lot for me emotionally, spiritually,” Fields said. “When I was on the field, I was damn near about to start crying, not because we won but because of the goodness of God … I mean, shoot, yesterday I started praying like crazy just for a win.
“I’m gonna get pretty vulnerable right here, but this week I found myself in my closet crying on the ground, laying down. Not because of the hardships, not because of the troubles, I felt like I was built to handle that. But in that moment, I was talking to my best friend about how hard it was and not wavering faith-wise, I just had gotten a text from my sister and my step mom and it was just an encouraging text on just keep going and keep spreading the faith … it was just a sign from God for me to keep going and that I’m in the right place.”
Fields was far from the only Jet playing with extra emotion on Sunday as they sought to end their seven-game losing streak to start the season and earn a win in Mangold’s honor. Current Jets center and fellow Ohio State product Josh Myers said “it meant everything” to win the game for Mangold.
“What a devastating story,” Myers said. “I’m from the Dayton area, just like he is, and he’s a legend in Dayton and in Ohio and in Jersey too, everywhere he went. So what a heartbreaking way for that to go, and it meant a ton to everyone in the Jets building to get that win for him.”
"It meant everything"
Josh Myers on winning on the day of Nick Mangold's passing pic.twitter.com/ucoM67HGsT
— New York Jets (@nyjets) October 27, 2025
The Jets’ other Ohio State products, Jeremy Ruckert (who caught one pass for 24 yards on Sunday) and Garrett Wilson (who was inactive due to a knee injury), each paid tribute to Mangold on social media.
Rest in peace. Thoughts and prayers to the Mangold family. One of my favorite Jets growing up as a kid. A true Jet for life https://t.co/QZZEQ72YYz
— Jeremy Ruckert (@Jeremy_Ruckert1) October 26, 2025
RIP Nick Mangold. A great Buckeye and Jet. I am devastated to hear this, and will hold on to the insight youve given me over these past few years.
RIP Legend, you will be missed.
— Garrett Wilson (@GarrettWilson_V) October 26, 2025
McLaurin, Lattimore make Monday night highlights
Two former Ohio State players made highlight-reel plays for the Washington Commanders on Monday night against the Kansas City Chiefs.
First, former Ohio State cornerback Marshon Lattimore made his first interception since Week 1 of 2023 as he picked off Patrick Mahomes on the Chiefs’ opening drive.
WE'LL TAKE THAT
#WASvsKC ESPN/ABC pic.twitter.com/PXQLdoZ9wN
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) October 28, 2025
Then, in the final minute of the first half, Terry McLaurin – in his first game back after missing four weeks with a quadriceps injury – made a spectacular game-tying touchdown catch, dragging his toes to get both feet in down in bounds for an 11-yard score. The catch was initially ruled incomplete on the field, but replay showed McLaurin had possession of the ball with both feet down in the end zone before he stepped out of bounds.
After review...
Mariota finds Terry McLaurin for the incredible toe-tap TD!
WASvsKC on ESPN/ABC
Stream on @NFLPlus and ESPN App pic.twitter.com/vJMwIneTed
— NFL (@NFL) October 28, 2025
McLaurin made another spectacular catch in the third quarter – which was once again ruled incomplete before a replay review – when he dove for a 25-yard catch and got his inside leg down in bounds to establish possession despite having his back arm grabbed by Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie.
What a catch pic.twitter.com/2o3RJMfymh
— NFL (@NFL) October 28, 2025
After making those catches, however, McLaurin left the game early after aggravating his quad injury. The Commanders went on to lose the game, 28-7, falling to 3-5 on the season.
Dobbins runs all over Dallas
After breaking the Denver Broncos’ 38-game drought without a 100-yard rusher earlier this season, Dobbins had his second 100-yard game of the season in Week 8, rushing for 111 yards on 15 carries in the Broncos’ 44-24 win over the Dallas Cowboys.
There goes J.K. Dobbins!
DALvsDEN on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/aqCZ4C1yiH
— NFL (@NFL) October 26, 2025
Dobbins has now rushed for 634 yards this season – the third-most in the NFL – and four touchdowns on 120 carries. Following the 6-2 Broncos’ fifth straight win on Sunday, Dobbins – who started his career with the Baltimore Ravens and signed with the Broncos this offseason after a one-year stint with the Los Angeles Chargers – found himself feeling grateful that he landed in Denver.
“I’m proving myself right that I made the right decision to come here,” Dobbins told reporters after the game. “Maybe I was born to be a Bronco – it just took a little time to get here.”
Forever grateful that God blessed me to be a Bronco! https://t.co/eyxPf0trbP
— Jk dobbins (@Jkdobbins22) October 27, 2025
Strip sack highlights big day for Young
The New Orleans Saints suffered a 23-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 8, but not due to any lack of effort from Chase Young.
In his third game appearance of the year after missing the start of the season with a calf injury, Young recorded four tackles with a pass deflection and 1.5 sacks, including a strip-sack on which he recovered his own fumble.
THAT'S CHASE YOUNG!!
STRIP SACK. FUMBLE RECOVERY. SAINTS BALL!
FOX pic.twitter.com/FSqs7MngmQ
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) October 26, 2025
Per Pro Football Focus, Young has been one of the best defensive ends in the NFL since his return from injury. “The Predator” has an overall grade of 90.5 for the season, tied for the fifth-best grade among NFL edge defenders who have played at least 100 snaps.
Henderson outduels Judkins
While Quinshon Judkins has had the better rookie year so far among the two running backs from Ohio State’s national championship team, TreVeyon Henderson had the better day between them as they went head-to-head in New England on Saturday.
After running for just 153 yards on 43 carries in his first seven NFL games, Henderson had his most productive game by far against the Cleveland Browns, rushing for 75 yards on 10 carries in the Patriots’ 32-13 win.
TreVeyon Henderson finally got it going in Week 8
was the Patriots leading rusher with 10 carries for 75 yards
Gains of 12, 18 and 27 (+ a right of passage fumble)
Opened with a well-blocked inside run, then McDaniels continued to pepper him with tosses to the edge pic.twitter.com/ttWVj1BIH2
— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) October 27, 2025
Henderson also had two kickoff returns for 55 yards against the Browns. The day ended on a sour note for Henderson, as he fumbled the ball just before the goal line on his final carry of the game, but he still received praise from Patriots coach and fellow former Buckeye Mike Vrabel after the game.
Mike Vrabel on #Patriots RB TreVeyon Hendersons performance:
He ran well out in space He made a good cut on one of those perimeter plays Got a couple returns. I feel like we could be better there, but being able to have his speed on the edge [helped].
( @Patriots) pic.twitter.com/zR1yIuwMrY
— Carlos A. Lopez (@LosTalksPats) October 27, 2025
Judkins, on the other hand, ran for a season-low 19 yards on nine carries before he was knocked out of the game in the third quarter with a shoulder injury. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Judkins suffered an AC joint sprain in his shoulder and is considered day-to-day.
Quick Hits
Jonathon Cooper had two pass breakups in a game for the first time in his career in the Broncos’ win over the Cowboys.
Dre’Mont Jones recorded a sack for the third consecutive week in the Tennessee Titans’ loss to the Indianapolis Colts.
Jordan Hancock had a career-high five tackles in the Buffalo Bills’ 40-9 win over the Carolina Panthers.
Lathan Ransom recorded his first NFL tackle for loss in the Panthers’ loss to the Bills.
Cameron Heyward had a season-high seven tackles in the Steelers’ loss to the Packers.
Week 8 Stats
Week 8 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.