The NFL released its 2020 schedule on Thursday evening, giving us a sense of normalcy amid the coronavirus pandemic. If the games go on as scheduled, there will only be a total of seven games (of a possible 256) this season that don’t include someone who played at Ohio State.
In fact, there are 62 former players on 27 different teams, with the Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs, New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Tennessee Titans as the only teams without a Buckeye — though it’s worth noting the Titans are coached by one (Mike Vrabel).
Some players will be cut or put on the practice squad before the season begins, but below is a breakdown of each team’s active roster, with the number of former Ohio State players in parentheses.
Cincinnati Bengals (5 players)
Safety Vonn Bell, defensive end Sam Hubbard, offensive guard Michael Jordan, center Billy Price and offensive tackle Isaiah Prince
Detroit Lions (4)
Defensive tackle Jashon Cornell, offensive tackle Taylor Decker, offensive guard Jonah Jackson and cornerback Jeff Okudah
Las Vegas Raiders (4)
Cornerback Damon Arnette, defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins, long snapper Liam McCullough and running back Rod Smith
Washington Redskins (4)
Tight end Marcus Baugh, quarterback Dwayne Haskins, wide receiver Terry McLaurin and defensive end Chase Young
Dallas Cowboys (3)
Wide receiver Noah Brown, running back Ezekiel Elliott and wide receiver Devin Smith
Denver Broncos (3)
Tight end Jeff Heuerman, defensive tackle Dre’Mont Jones and tight end Nick Vannett
Indianapolis Colts (3)
Wide receiver Parris Campbell, safety Malik Hooker and defensive end Tyquan Lewis
New Orleans Saints (3)
Safety Malcolm Jenkins, cornerback Marshon Lattimore and wide receiver Michael Thomas
New York Giants (3)
Safety Nate Ebner and wide receivers Austin Mack and Binjimen Victor
Baltimore Ravens (2)
Running back J.K. Dobbins and linebacker Malik Harrison
Carolina Panthers (2)
Offensive lineman Branden Bowen and wide receiver Curtis Samuel
Cleveland Browns (2)
Offensive guard Malcolm Pridgeon and cornerback Denzel Ward
Houston Texans (2)
Cornerbacks Gareon Conley and Bradley Roby
Los Angeles Chargers (2)
Defensive end Joey Bosa and wide receiver K.J. Hill
Los Angeles Rams (2)
Safety Jordan Fuller and long snapper Jake McQuaide
Jacksonville Jaguars (2)
Defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton and offensive guard Andrew Norwell
Miami Dolphins (2)
Linebackers Jerome Baker and Raekwon McMillan
Minnesota Vikings (2)
Offensive guard Pat Elflein and defensive end Jalyn Holmes
New England Patriots (2)
Tight end Rashod Berry and defensive end John Simon
Pittsburgh Steelers (2)
Quarterback J.T. Barrett and defensive end Cameron Heyward
Seattle Seahawks (2)
Offensive tackle Jamarco Jones and offensive guard Demetrius Knox
Arizona Cardinals (1)
Wide receiver Johnnie Dixon
Atlanta Falcons (1)
Cornerback Kendall Sheffield
Chicago Bears (1)
Wide receiver Ted Ginn
Green Bay Packers (1)
Center Corey Linsley
Philadelphia Eagles (1)
Punter Cameron Johnston
San Francisco 49ers (1)
Defensive end Nick Bosa
Buffalo Bills (0)
Kansas City Chiefs (0)
New York Jets (0)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0)
Tennessee Titans (0)
With those numbers in mind, we’ve decided to take it one step further by highlighting the game (or games) that will feature the most Buckeyes each week.
With five players from Ohio State on the roster — not including quarterback and No. 1 overall pick Joe Burrow, who played in Columbus before heading to LSU as a graduate transfer — the Cincinnati Bengals will be featured heavily throughout the preseason and regular season.
The Detroit Lions, Las Vegas Raiders and Washington Redskins each have four players apiece after drafting multiple Buckeyes this year or last year, so they are well-represented, as well.
PRESEASON
Hall of Fame Game (5 combined players)
Cowboys vs Steelers – Thursday, Aug. 6, 8 p.m., NBC
Week 1 (0)
No nationally televised games
Week 2 (7)
Redskins at Colts – Monday, Aug. 24, 8 p.m., ESPN
Week 3 (6)
Bengals at Falcons – Friday, Aug. 28, 8 p.m., CBS
Week 4 (8)
Colts at Bengals – Thursday, Sept. 3, TBD, TBD
REGULAR SEASON
Week 1 (7)
Chargers at Bengals – Sunday, Sept. 13, 4 pm, CBS
Week 2 (7)
Bengals at Browns – Thursday, Sept. 17, 8 pm, NFLN
Saints at Raiders – Monday, Sept. 21, 8 pm, ESPN
Week 3 (6)
Redskins at Browns – Sunday, Sept. 27, 1 p.m., FOX
Raiders at Patriots- Sunday, Sept. 27, 1 p.m., CBS
Bengals at Eagles – Sunday, Sept. 27, 1 p.m., CBS
Week 4 (7)
Jaguars at Bengals – Sunday, Oct. 4, 1 p.m., CBS
Saints at Lions – Sunday, Oct. 4, 1 p.m., FOX
Week 5 (7)
Bengals at Ravens – Sunday, Oct. 11, 1 p.m., CBS
Week 6 (8)
Bengals at Colts – Sunday, Oct. 18, 1 p.m., FOX
Week 7 (7)
Browns at Bengals – Sunday, Oct. 25, 1 p.m., CBS
Cowboys at Redskins – Sunday, Oct. 25, 1 p.m., FOX
Week 8 (7)
Colts at Lions – Sunday, Nov. 1, 1 p.m., CBS
Week 9 (7)
Giants at Redskins – Sunday, Nov. 8, 1 p.m., FOX
Week 10 (8)
Redskins at Lions – Sunday, Nov. 15, 1 p.m., FOX
Week 11 (9)
Bengals at Redskins – Sunday, Nov. 22, 1 p.m., CBS
Week 12 (8)
Giants at Bengals – Sunday, Nov. 29, 1 p.m., FOX
Week 13 (7)
Bengals at Dolphins – Sunday, Dec. 6, 1 p.m., CBS
Week 14 (8)
Cowboys at Bengals – Sunday, Dec. 13, 1 p.m., FOX
Week 15
Steelers at Bengals – Monday, Dec. 21, 8 p.m., ESPN
Week 16 (7)
Bengals at Texans – Sunday, Dec. 27, 1 p.m., CBS
Week 17 (7)
Ravens at Bengals – Sunday, Jan. 3, 1 p.m., CBS
Raiders at Broncos – Sunday, Jan. 3, 4:25 p.m. CBS
For four free issues of the now-monthly print edition of Buckeye Sports Bulletin, sign up at the link below. No credit card required: https://www.buckeyesports.com/subscribe-4issue-trial/
