Marshon Lattimore’s first career Pick-6, and more from Ohio State alumni in the NFL

After a pretty quiet Week 5 for former Ohio State studs in the NFL, they all stepped up their games in a massive way for their Week 6 matchups. Some are still on the sidelines with either injuries or bye weeks, but those that suited up made their time and effort count.

Heuerman’s first career TD

After being drafted by the Broncos in 2015, then missing his rookie season due to injury, Buckeye TE Jeff Heuerman is finally finding his place on Denver’s offense. He had minimal production in 2016, claiming just nine receptions all season for 141 yards. This season has started similarly with just four receptions in five games for 59 yards, but the tight-end finally made his way into the endzone for his first score in the NFL.

Buckeyes feast for New Orleans

Normally, the headliner out of New Orleans is wideout Michael Thomas, but this week it’s his three Buckeye brothers are the ones making headlines with big games. The Saints beat the Lions 52-38 with two Ohio State alumni snagging TDs and another making his second career sack.

For the defense, Vonn Bell had a big day with five total tackles (two for loss) and a big time sack on Lions’ QB Matthew Stafford to give the ball back to the New Orleans offense. Not to be outdone, rookie Marshon Lattimore had five tackles and two pass breakups in addition to his 27-yard Pick-6.

Over on offense, Saints’ wideout Ted Ginn Jr. finished the day with 66 yards on four catches and a 20-yard touchdown to cap off the day.

Jalin Marshall cut by the Jets

After serving a four-game suspension to start the 2017 season — received for violating the league’s performance enhancing drug policy — the Buckeye receiver was waived. The New York Jets decided to part ways with the wideout just a week after activating him to the roster, and just a day before the team was set to play the Patriots.

Marshall signed with the Jets as an undrafted free agency shortly after falling out of the seven round event in 2016. He spent his rookie season splitting time between offensive snaps and return duties. Unfortunately, some of the same drop issues Marshall had at Ohio State had seeped into his game at the next level, and resulted in the Jets benching him from special teams to finish out the season.

The receiver finished his first season in the NFL with 14 receptions for 162 yards and two touchdowns — the Buckeye played in 10 games during his rookie season, having missed two games to a labrum tear in Week 3. Marshall also fielded 13 kickoffs for 324 yards and 18 punt returns for 100 yards before being benched.

El Guapo drawing trade rumors

After finishing the week with two touchdowns, Niners running back Carlos Hyde is apparently drawing interest from teams around the league. San Francisco’s head coach Kyle Shanahan rebuffed the rumors that the Niners were interested in shopping the Buckeye around — even if they were, his production and snap count from Sunday would prove that to be a poor business decision.

Plays of the week

Braxton Miller

After being a healthy scratch for the Texans earlier in the season, the former Buckeye standout finally made his name known in the NFL. He hasn’t had the immediate success at WR that most assumed from the former QB, but as Houston’s offense gets a boost with a consistent, albeit rookie, quarterback, Miller’s production should be on the upswing as well. He may have finished the day Sunday with -5 yards, but he did get into the endzone in spectacular fashion.

Joey Bosa

Another week, another big time sack from second-year player Joey Bosa. The reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year racked up three tackles on Sunday, 1.0 sack and a forced fumble on the way to the Chargers’ one-point victory over the Raiders.

Other Notables from Week 6

• After two weeks inactive for the Arizona Cardinals, guard Alex Boone finally not only made the lineup, but did so as a starter on Sunday.
• The Giants made the surprising move to bench DB Eli Apple for a few plays last week, and it was enough to shake up the former Buckeye. Having never been benched before at any other level in his football career, Apple went on to have a good game in primetime on Sunday Night Football with five solo tackles and three pass breakups.
• Darron Lee has been hot and cold in his two-year career for the Jets, but on Sunday he had a pretty decent day despite the task of guarding the much-taller Rob Gronkowsi. Lee finished the day with six total tackles, a pass breakup and a forced fumble against the Patriots.
• Centers and offensive lineman are often overlooked, but Buckeye and Packers center Corey Linsley is not one of them, and this time, it’s not for a good reason. He’s been omitted from the past few week’s NFL recaps because of his either lackluster or poor performance. He’s certainly a staple for Green Bay’s offensive line, but the line did QB Aaron Rodgers little to no favors the past few weeks in terms of pressure and hits — and this was even before Rodgers broke his collarbone.

Injury Report and Inactives

• The Indianapolis Buckeye Colts (Johnathan Hankins, Malik Hooker, John Simon) will face off against the Tennessee Titans on Monday Night Football. They will be without one of their Ohio State brothers as Colts’ guard Jack Mewhort was designated to IR over the weekend for a knee injury.
• Rookie standout Gareon Conley was inactive again with lingering shin issues. The Buckeye is scheduled to see a doctor on Tuesday which could either sideline him for a couple of weeks or clear him to return to the field.
• Panthers’ safety Kurt Coleman is still sidelined with a knee injury. He’s about two weeks into a month-long recovery.
• For the third straight week, 3rd string QB Cardale Jones was inactive for the Chargers Sunday.

Bye Week

• Four teams are on Bye this week, including the Buffalo Bills (Adolphus Washington), Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys (Noah Brown [R], Ezekiel Elliott, Rod Smith), and Seattle Seahawks (Nick Vannett).