Buckeyes In the NFL: Breaking Down The 2020 NFL Schedule

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

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