Former Ohio State Buckeyes to watch in NFL Hall of Fame Game: Will C.J. Stroud play?

The NFL Hall of Fame Game kicks off tonight at 8 p.m. ET. That's right, the NFL offseason is almost over. We're looking at how many former Ohio State Buckeyes you'll see in the Chicago Bears vs. Houston Texans matchup.

Plus, the answer everyone wants to know is whether star Texans QB C.J. Stroud will play.

Is C.J. Stroud Playing in the Hall of Fame Game?

Unfortunately, fans hoping to see the starting quarterback of the Texans will not be able to. Stroud will not play in the NFL Hall of Fame Game, joining 2024 No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams as an observer in the contest.

Most of the Texans' starters won't be playing, in fact. We'll see Davis Mills under center to start, and we could see Stroud in the lineup on August 9 against Pittsburgh. The Texans are wisely looking to stay healthy.

Ohio State Buckeyes Playing in the NFL Hall of Fame Game

Stroud would've been the headliner of the former Buckeyes to be suiting up. But even in his absence, there will be some representation. Surprisingly, the Bears don't have a Buckeye on its roster, but Houston has several:

• TE Cade Stover
• CB Jeff Okudah
• WR Noah Brown

Cade Stover is the most recent Buckeye, as the rookie was selected in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. He's probably a roster lock but is fighting to be the second tight end behind Dalton Schultz. Brevin Jordan and Teagan Quitoriano are also in the mix.

"Farmer Gronk" isn't the most dynamic athlete or dominant blocker, but he's solid at everything. I could see him overtake Dalton Schultz in some situations, but it's often tough for young tight ends to make a huge mark early in their careers.

Brown and Okudah are in less certain situations but don't seem to be fighting for their roster spots. Brown has been productive whenever he's been called upon, and even in a loaded receiving room, he has special teams value. The team's fourth and fifth receiver roles should include him and John Metchie.

Okudah has the most to gain throughout the preseason. A newcomer who hasn't nearly found the success most (including myself) would've predicted for the first-rounder, Okudah is in a friendly scheme with a good pass rush now. But cornerbacks have a tough task to stand out, and Houston added several bodies to compete for two spots.

I'm optimistic Okudah can beat out less-heralded talents who haven't found NFL success yet. His main competition will be second-round rookie Kamari Lassiter and newcomer C.J. Henderson. At worst, Okudah might be the fourth or fifth cornerback.