NFL Update: Justice Hill gets a punt, Rudolph takes over for Titans

On By Littum

We’re coming down the home stretch of the NFL regular season with three or so crucial games remaining for the teams still in the playoff hunt. And there happen to be a handful of former Cowboys playing on a few of those teams.

Let’s take a look around the league to see how OSU alums fared in Week 15.

Justice Hill checks the other boxes

Justice received a game ball to display his talents in ways less traditional than a ball holder. The dynamic fifth-year running back recently inked a new two-year deal with the Baltimore Ravens thanks to his ability to complement the talents of RB1 Derrick Henry and rushing QB Lamar Jackson. Those skills were on display against the Giants.

Hill’s 59-yard opening kickoff return was the longest for Baltimore this season, and then he reeled in all five balls thrown to him for 61 yards, including a huge 27-yard TD. Going into week 16, Hill’s 447 yards after the catch ranks second among AFC running backs.

Justice, Tylan Wallace and the rest of the Ravens will host another OSU alum when Jaylen Warren and the Pittsburgh Steelers visit for a crucial AFC North game at 3:30 p.m. Saturday.

Chuba takes care of the big guys

Chuba had a pretty pedestrian game by his standards, rushing for just 32 yards and adding 17 receiving yards during the Panthers’ 30-14 loss to Dallas.

But while the Panthers’ have been going through a rebuilding year and haven’t been out of the playoffs in some time, Chuba has been a bright spot, eclipsing 1,000 yards the week before (he’s the first Canadian to do so in nearly four decades). He also engineered a major expansion and decided to spread some of that wealth with the big guys who paved the way.

Chuba and the Panthers host the Arizona Cardinals at noon on Sunday.

“Rudolph, you’re in”

Mason Rudolph is no stranger to the quarterback carousel, having spent four years up and down the depth chart in Pittsburgh before entering the QB game at Tennessee this season. On Sunday, after not seeing the field in over a month, he got the nod to spell Will Levis after the second-year quarterback committed his fourth turnover of the game, including three interceptions, which came over eight plays.

Rudolph came in and gave the Titans a little bit of life, completing 21 of 26 throws for 209 yards and two touchdowns, though he had an interception of his own. After the game, the Tennessee head coach Brian Callahan was noncommittal on who would start next week.

The 3-11 Titans head to Indy to face the Colts at noon on Sunday.