• Week Five byes: Atlanta, Cincinnati, Seattle, Houston
• HOU DE Mario Williams finally "Super" in first win
• CIN MLB Thurman suspended for rest of season
• CAR MLB Morgan remains out; LB Seward moving out of picture
• BAL LB Scott continues to dominate
• ATL defense dominating despite key absences
• NE backups and replacements succeed in covering for banged up secondary
• NYG LB Emmons out two weeks, rookie to replace him
• MIN LB Leber inactive, LB Thomas replaces him, maybe for good
• KC DE Allen arrest for second DUI in less than a year
• SD SS Kiel awaits court for trafficking cough syrup
• GB CB Carroll cut
• TEN DT Haynesworth suspended 5 games for stomping Cowboy

DE Bertrand Berry was caught leaving contain multiple times, contributing to ATL QB Michael Vick’s big rushing day. Berry had just 2 solo tackles and is yet to have a sack this season. There hasn’t been word about an injury, but he is coming off torn pec and knee problems last year. He may not be back at full strength yet and/or may be slowing down at age 31. Backup DE Antonio Smith is seeing more time and improving in his third year. Last week he recovered a fumble and this week he had his first sack among 4 solo tackles. Opposite Berry, Chike Okeafor had his first sack, as well.

MLB Gerald Hayes led the team with 8 tackles (6 solo). Karlos Dansby continues to battle turf toe and has yet to start a game. He was still more productive that starting OLBs Calvin Pace and Orlando Huff. Dansby had 5 tackles (3 solo).

CB Eric Green returned to the starting lineup after missing the previous game with a groin injury.

Atlanta
Despite stud DE John Abraham having only played the first game of the season and missing MLB Edgerton Hartwell for each game so far, the Atlanta defense continues to thrive. They have not allowed an offensive TD in three of their four games this year and scored one of their own on Sunday. CB DeAngelo Hall looked like his calf injured the previous game was fine as he returned a pick 37 yards for a score in the third quarter. SLB Michael Boley had a dominating performance. He tipped the pass that Hall picked off, and then grabbed one of his own on another tipped pass. It was his first career pick. He also had his first career sack and forced a fumble on it that DT Rod Coleman recovered, one of two on the day for Coleman. Boley also totaled 7 solo tackles.

DE John Abraham (groin) and MLB Edgerton Hartwell (knees) were both inactive again. Both are likely to return after the bye this week. Chauncey Davis, who had 2 solo tackles, continues to start in place of Abraham at DE. DE Patrick Kerney appears fully recovered from a triceps injury, as he had a career high three sacks, and forced a fumble on one of them. In place of Hartwell, Keith Brooking remains in the middle in his place, with Demorrio Williams remaining in the first team at WLB. Williams led the team with 10 tackles (7 solo). Williams, who was expected to lose his starting job until Hartwell was hurt, leads the team in tackles. The play of Williams and Boley has left the team with no need to rush Hartwell. It will be interesting to see if they send Williams back to the bench when Hartwell returns. Don’t give up on Williams yet because Hartwell is expected back, they may quickly find they already have their best three backers on the field

Baltimore
WLB Bart Scott continues his march to become the third Defensive Player of the Year on the Ravens roster. His grabbed his first interception of the year (and second of his career, first since 2002) in the first quarter and returned it 24 yards to set up a TD that tied the game 7-7. Scott finished with a game-high 15 tackles (11 solo). The former undrafted free agent is also tied for the NFL lead with 5 sacks. MLB Ray Lewis had 14 (10 solo) and leads the team with two more than Scott.

DE Terrell Suggs started and played through a right hamstring injury that kept him out of practice the previous week, but posted just 1 solo tackle. He said the hamstring felt fine after the game. FS Ed Reed played through a foot injury and also said it was fine after the game. He had 7 tackles (4 solo) and broke up a pass.

Buffalo
Despite practicing the previous week, SLB Takeo Spikes was inactive for the third straight game with a hamstring injury. Rookie Keith Ellison continued to start in his place, again at SLB, and posted 3 solo tackles, including 1 on special teams. WLB Angelo Crowell again led the team with 10 tackles (7 solo) and had a pick. MLB London Fletcher had 4 tackles (3 solo) and made a nice diving interception in the fourth quarter.

The pressure on the QB was better than last week, but it resulted in no sacks. DE Chris Kelsay was close a few times.

S Matt Bowen began practicing last week, but remained inactive with a knee injury. He has lost his starting SS job to first round pick Donte Whitner.

Carolina
MLB Dan Morgan remains out indefinitely with a concussion. He hasn’t played since the season opener. No one, including Morgan, is discussing his situation in detail. HC John Fox offered little more than “He’s doing fine. He’s working out. He’s in meetings.” Fox also indicated he isn’t considering retirement, as has been rumored. Chris Draft remains the MLB, after replacing Adam Seward in the middle the previous week. Draft had 7 tackles (5 solo). Seward appears completely out of the picture, and without fantasy value, for now, as he worked mostly just on special teams. Na’il Diggs started at WLB and posted 6 tackles (4 solo). Thomas Davis remains the SLB, finishing with 7 tackles (4 solo, including 1 on special teams) and broke up a pass.

Among his 4 solo tackles, DE Julius Peppers had the only sack for the Panthers and forced a fumble on it. He also broke up a pass. Peppers is tied for the NFL-lead with five sacks this season.

Rookie CB Richard Marshall started ahead of Ken Lucas. Lucas is limited, particularly as a tackler, but neck and shoulder injuries. Marshall led the team with 11 solo tackles (including 2 on special teams) and defended a pass. Lucas had 2 solo tackles in limited work on third downs.

SS Shaun Williams was inactive for the second straight week with a foot injury from Week Two. Colin Branch started in his place again and had 5 solo tackles.

Chicago
The defense dominated Seattle and DT Tommie Harris continues to dominate everyone. He has become the most disruptive interior force in the league and is the rare DT that posts good fantasy stats regularly. He had two sacks among his 3 solo tackles and is tied for the league lead with five on the season.

Rookie DE Mark Anderson is becoming a sleeper sensation as the primary backup on both sides. He had two sacks and now has 3.5 on the season. In addition to rotating in, Anderson had to spell DE Adewale Ogunleye a couple of times. Once he stayed down on the ground for a while before coming out and another time Ogunleye just appeared winded. There was no injury report on him after the game. Another surprise stud was nickel corner Ricky Manning Jr. He had two interceptions in the second quarter, including an outstanding athletic play where he tipped the ball to himself and returned it for a TD. The return was brought back because of a penalty, but the subsequent drive still resulted in a score. Manning’s impressive performance came after he pleaded no contest to a felony assault charge.

OLB Lance Briggs led the team with 10 tackles (9 solo).

Cincinnati
The tackling was poor on Sunday, contributing to 236 yards on the ground for the Pats. The play that highlighted it best was a 25-yard TD run by NE RB Laurence Maroney. CB Tory James missed on dive for his legs, SS Kevin Kaesviharn bounced off him, and FS Madieu Williams was knocked down by a stiff arm. Kaesviharn continues to start in place of Dexter Jackson, who should return after the bye from an ankle sprain.

The problems started up front, where run-stopping DT Sam Adams continues to battle a bad knee. DE Justin Smith (DE, LB) had 10 tackles (5 solo), and while four were for no gain or a loss, as many were downfield after games of five yards or more. The biggest problem is trying to get some stability in the LB corps.

MLB Odell Thurman, already serving a four-game suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy, had the suspension extended for the rest of the season. His third strike was an arrest on a drunken driving charge Monday 9/25. He is eligible to apply for reinstatement in the league in 2007. Whether or not it is with the Bengals remains to be seen. If winning isn’t in the headlines, the focus will be somewhere else. With several character issues creating extensive negative publicity for the team, Thurman could be made an example of if the team does not meet expectations. Brian Simmons appears likely to start the rest of the season at MLB, which should be a bump to his value, but Simmons has appeared at times overmatched in the middle, particularly on Sunday as the Patriots ran all over the defense. Simmons is on pace for just 56 solo tackles, a low number for a starting MLB. He posted just four assists on Sunday when New England ran 41 times. However, their options are limited, unless supplemental draft rookie Ahmad Brooks (LB, CB) progresses faster than expected. The LB problems don’t end in the middle. With David Pollack on the IR, Rashad Jeanty had been solid as his surprise successor. However, Jeanty was inactive with a bruised foot, but is expected back after the bye. Caleb Miller replaced Jeanty and had 13 tackles (7 solo). On the weakside, where Simmons would normally play, Landon Johnson had been playing. However, Miller started at WLB on Sunday with Johnson, who was also slated to be a backup at the beginning of the season, moving to SLB. Johnson had 5 tackles (1 solo).

It’s too early for a fantasy overreaction (e.g. dropping Simmons). The defense has a bye week to heal up, get the people recalibrated in their new positions, and the focus back on fundamentals. How they play coming out of the bye, with two weeks to prepare for Tampa Bay, will be telling. After that, we should have a better idea of how to value some of their IDPs the rest of the way.

Another element missing contributing to the loss was the inability to force turnovers. The Bengals, who led the NFL in turnovers and differential last year, had 11 takeaways in the first three games. On Sunday, they just had one, an INT by CB Tory James. It was the first of the season for James who had nine in 2005. Fellow CB Deltha O’Neal, who also had nine picks in 2005, has only one this year, as well.

Rookie DE Frostee Rucker was placed on the IR last week with a shoulder injury. The third-round pick never did anything on the field and was another addition of dubious character in the off-season.

Cleveland
First round pick Kamerion Wimbley is proving to be the young pass rusher from the edge the team wanted. He had two sacks and leads the team with three. He has the start as Matt Steward is relegated to the bench. Opposite Wimbley, Willie McGinest continues to play through a calf injury. He had 2 solo tackles. ILB Andra Davis also had a sack among his team-leading 7 solo tackles.

CB Gary Baxter remained inactive with a lingering pec injury. Daven Holly started in his place again. When CB Leigh Bodden went down with a sprained ankle, the team was without it’s top three corners, as Daylon McCutcheon was inactive as well. Antonio Perkins saw more work with Bodden hurt. SS Sean Jones (DE, DB) had his second interception of the year and broke up another pass. He also had 6 tackles (4 solo).

Dallas
DE Chris Canty (DE, CB) and OLB Kevin Burnett each had their first sack of the season. Burnett, a second round pick last year, spent most of his rookie season ignored by Parcells. He appears to be gaining favor, as he has seen significant action the last two weeks. Barring an injury or benching of another LB, he still doesn’t have much value. First round pick LB Bobby Carpenter appears to have taken Burnett’s place in the doghouse. He was inactive again. ILB Bradie James had his first career pick and nickel corner Aaron Glenn has his first INT of the year. ILB Akin Ayodele led the team with 8 tackles (4 solo).

Denver
MLB Al Wilson, who was battling a hamstring injury before the bye, pronounced himself fit for this week. However, the return of DE Courtney Brown, who has yet to play this year, is still uncertain as he recovers from preseason knee surgery.

Detroit
After going two games without a sack, pass rush specialist DE Kalimba Edwards got his first sack of the season, the only one of the game. The team forced no turnovers. They have yet to grab an INT this year.

After missing the previous game due to a death in the family, CB Fernando Bryant was inactive with an ankle injury. Jamar Fletcher started in his place again and led the team with 9 solo tackles. HC Rod Marinelli has said Fletcher, a former first round pick of Miami, will remain the starting CB even when Bryant returns. SS Kennoy Kennedy missed his second straight game with a foot injury. Rookie Daniel Bullocks started in his place again, posting 8 tackles (6 solo) and breaking up a pass.

Boss Bailey finally started a game at MLB in the first series, but his performance continues to disappoint. He had just 2 solo tackles. Rookie WLB Ernie Sims leads the team in tackles by a wide margin on the season.

Green Bay
Former first round pick CB Ahmad Carroll was cut after a mistake-filled Monday night game. Carroll’s career has been full of missed assignments and penalties.

Carroll had a sack before leaving. OLB A.J. Hawk and DE Aaron Kampman shared a sack. DE KGB had his second sack of the season.

CB Charles Woodson has been solid as a punt returner and playing well at corner. He forced a fumble and recovered it on a goal-line run. He also had 3 solo tackles and broke up a couple of passes.

Houston
After the Texans took the lead 10-6 on the first play of the fourth quarter, Mario Williams would finally get the monkey off his back. On the first play from scrimmage for Miami on the subsequent drive, he would drop MIA QB Daunte Culpepper for a three-yard loss and get his first NFL sack. With that obstacle out of the way, he wasted no time adding to his career sack total. On the next play, he would share a sack with fellow rookie MLB DeMeco Ryans. Miami was backed up deep in their own territory now and after an incomplete pass on third down, they would punt and leave Houston with good field position. The Texans capitalized on the next drive, scoring another TD to take a 17-6 lead. Williams would make still another huge impact on the game. With less than two minutes left, Miami scored to cut the lead to 17-15 and would go for two. They would attempt a halfback option on the conversion, but as MIA RB Ronnie Brown threw it toward the end zone, Williams cut across the goal-line and tipped the pass away to help seal HC Gary Kubiak’s first win. In addition to the half-sack, Ryans led the team with 8 tackles (7 solo).

As a less-mobile Culpepper has struggled against strong pressure this year, the Texans brought it with a variety of blitzes the whole game. SS Glenn Earl set the tone with a sack on the first play of the game. The team would finish with five sacks (after a total of three in their first three games) and had 10 QB hits in the game.

DE Antwan Peek remained out with a groin injury. After a solid start, former first round pick DE Jason Babin has not been productive. Anthony Weaver is spending more time at end with Seth Payne, who had his first sack on Sunday, next to Travis Johnson inside.

CB DeMarcus Faggins is expected to miss at least three more weeks with his broken foot from the preseason. Lewis Sanders continues to start opposite Dunta Robinson, with Dexter McCleon the nickel corner.

Indianapolis
DE Dwight Freeney had 3 solo tackles and has yet to register a sack through four games, the longest stretch he’s been shutout in his career. He played through a strained glut the previous game, but he wasn’t on the injury report last week. He still draws a lot of attention, which continues to benefit Robert Mathis on the other side. Mathis had his second two-sack game of the season, forcing a fumble on one.

The secondary was thin with CB Nick Harper (groin), FS Bob Sanders (knee), and third corner Marlin Jackson (concussion) all inactive. Rookie Antoine Bethea, who beat Michael Doss out for the SS job, once again moved to FS to cover for Sanders. Doss started at SS. Kelvin Hayden started at CB in place of Harper and was the most productive of the three, as the Jets tested the young player in his first start. Hayden had 8 tackles (5 solo) and a pass defensed. Rookie Tim Jennings saw his first extensive action, posting 2 solo tackles. Harper is expected to miss this week, but Jackson is expected back and should replace Harper as a starting corner. Sanders may not return until after the team’s bye (10/15). It was revealed he underwent surgery on his knee two weeks ago, which is why he has missed the couple of games. The success of Bethea has apparently made Doss expendable, as Jay Glazer of CBS reports Doss is on the trading block, but nothing is going to happen while Sanders is injured.

DT Corey Simon remained inactive with a knee injury and is not expected back until after their bye week.

MLB Gary Brackett, playing through a thigh injury, tied for the team lead with 13 tackles (9 solo). WLB Cato June also had 13 tackles (10 solo).

Jacksonville
CB Brian Williams (LB, CB) and FS Deon Grant couldn’t get on the same page with how to cover WAS WR Santana Moss. He toasted one or both on all three of his TD catches, including the game-winning catch in OT. The two faired better on WAS WR Brandon Lloyd, who Williams stripped after a catch and Grant recovered the fumble. Williams had 9 tackles (6 solo) and Grant had 8 (7 solo), as well. SS Donovin Darius tied Williams for the team lead in tackles with 9 (8 solo). CB Rashean Mathis continued on his pace for a career year. He intercepted a flea-flicker for his fourth pick of the season and a franchise-record 16th INT. Five in a season (twice) is his best individual year, which he should easily surpass.

After sacks in the previous two games, backup DE Bobby McCray was close a couple of times, but didn’t notch one Sunday. He did have 3 solo tackles. With DE Marcellus Wiley inactive (groin), rookie Tony McDaniel and Brent Hawkins saw some work, as well.

DT Marcus Stroud, who is already playing through a lingering right ankle injury, left the game in the fourth quarter with a groin injury. He had a protective boot on the injured foot after the game, as well. Stroud posted just one solo tackle in the game. Stroud is uncertain to play this week.

Kansas City
Utilized more as a pass rusher, OLB Derrick Johnson (OLB, CB) had the best game of his young career. He led the team with 9 tackles (7 solo), including 1.5 sacks, forcing a fumble on one. He also broke up a pass. First round pick Tamba Hali had his first sacks, as he shared one with Johnson and had another himself on which he forced a fumble. FS Greg Wesley and MLB Kawika Mitchell got in on the sack party, each had their first of the season. DE Jared Allen was in on a different kind of party last week, as he was arrested for a DUI. It was his second DUI in the last year, so he could face disciplinary action from the league. He started the game and had 1 solo tackle and a fumble recovery.

CB Ty Law had his first pick as a Chief, the 47th of his career. SS Sammy Knight had his first pick of the season.

Miami
DE Jason Taylor had to leave the game in the first quarter with sore ribs and would post only one assist in the first half, but he returned in the second half with a vengeance. After HOU T Ephraim Salaam left with a groin injury, Taylor exploited replacement Brad Bedell on the first series of the third quarter. Taylor flew by Bedell, sacking HOU QB David Carr, stripping the ball, and recovering it. Taylor would record a second sack, his third of the season, later in the game. He had a total of 6 tackles (5 solo) in the game. DT Vonnie Holliday also had two sacks in the game.

For the second straight game, CB Will Allen (CB, SS)’s active hands forced a key turnover. As HOU WR Andre Johnson was bringing in the ball on a short pass at the end of the first quarter, Allen went for the ball instead of the tackle and stripped it out of Johnson’s grasp. The play was ruled an interception and Miami would take a 3-0 lead after a field goal on the subsequent drive. Allen broke up two other passes and had 8 solo tackles, including just his second career sack, in the game. CB Travis Daniels, whose ankle sprain sidelined him the first two games, appears to be fully healed. After being eased in as a sub last week, he was back in the starting lineup across from Allen on Sunday, moving Andre Goodman back to third corner. Daniels finished with two assists.

As usual, MLB Zach Thomas led the team in tackles. He had a game-high 12 (11 solo).

The lost meant another bad memory for DC Dom Capers in Houston. He had been the franchise’s only HC until he was fired in the off-season.

Minnesota
CB Fred Smoot returned to the starting lineup after being benched for the first series the previous week. He broke up a pass and had 4 solo tackles, but missed a critical one on BUF WR Peerless Price on a low pass. Price eluded him and ran down the sideline for the decisive TD in the third quarter. CB Antoine Winfield led the team with 11 tackles (7 solo). Rookie CB Cedric Griffin is seeing his role increase. He has moved in to a rotation in the nickel role. Ronyell Whitaker, who gave up the decisive TD against Chicago the previous week, is seeing his time decrease.

After a slow start, DT Kevin Williams (WR, DT, CB, S) had his first big game of the year. He appeared to have regained the quickness and strength he was missing through an injury-plagued 2005 when he had just four sacks. Williams finished with 8 tackles (7 solo), including his second sack of the season, and a pass defensed. However, he also jumped offside on a third-and-goal on which they stopped Buffalo and would have forced fourth down in the second quarter. Instead, BUF RB Willis McGahee would score a TD on the new down and put the Bills up 7-3. DE Darrion Scott continues to start and shared a sack with WLB E.J. Henderson.

SS Darren Sharper suffered a bruised left thigh in the fourth quarter. He left the game and didn’t return. Greg Blue replaced him.

With Ben Leber inactive with a sprained knee, Dontarrious Thomas replaced Leber as the starting SLB. Thomas had 4 tackles (3 solo, including 1 on special teams) and made no obvious mistakes. The team has been disappointed with Leber’s play, so it could be more than a one-game stint for Thomas. Thomas is a 2004 second round pick out of Auburn, where he formed a fearsome duo with AZ LB Karlos Dansby. Thomas was never able to climb out of former HC Mike Tice’s doghouse, but he has potential to be a solid starter.

New England
Despite the absence of CB Ellis Hobbs (wrist) and FS Eugene Wilson (hamstring), the usually potent Bengal offense was contained. One key was the Pats being able to win the time of possession battle with a dominating run game. The second key was the creative new packages employed to cover the thin secondary and effectiveness of the substitutes. Chad Scot started at corner in place of Cobbs and Artrell Hawkins, who was playing through a thigh injury himself, started at FS. Hank Poteat, who recently returned after Randall Gay was put on the IR, was the nickel corner. WR Troy Brown also reprised his role as emergency corner. The third key was the breakout game (actually, quarter) by DE Jarvis Green. A situational pass rusher, Green is typically used in four-man fronts when the team is in nickel packages, which they were in frequently to counter the spread Cincinnati offense. After the Pats went up by 11 early in the fourth quarter, Green’s big day got underway. He got his first sack on CIN QB Carson Palmer deep in Bengal territory, forcing a fumble he recovered himself. New England would capitalize with a TD on the subsequent drive, extending the lead to 18. On the next drive, ILB Tedy Bruschi and DE Ty Warren would converge on Palmer, with Warren getting the sack and forcing a fumble he recovered himself. Another TD after the change of possession extended the lead to 25. But, I digress, back to Green. He would have two sacks on the next drive, both on first downs in the span of three plays, that sealed the victory as minutes came off the clock on a futile drive in which the Bengals were unable to score.

ILB Tedy Bruschi led the team with 7 tackles (3 solo).

After a rough game the previous week, backup S James Sanders was no where to be found despite the injuries in the secondary. In addition to Poteat, the team added former undrafted free agent Antwain Spann last week, who saw time on special teams.

New Orleans
After getting to ATL QB Michael Vick fives times in an emotional return home last Monday, they only got to CAR Jake Delhomme once and forced no turnovers. WLB Scott Shanle had the only sack for the Saints, among his 5 tackles (4 solo). DE Will Smith was held without a sack for the first time this year. Smith had 3 tackles (1 solo) and a pass defensed.

CB Fred Thomas, who had trouble covering a healthy (CAR WR) Steve Smith, led the team with 12 solo tackles. He missed number 13 when Smith dragged him in to the end zone for the first score of the game in the third quarter. MLB Mark Simoneau had 8 tackles (6 solo).

Rookie DE Rob Ninkovich, who flashed some potential in limited exposure earlier this year, had his season end when he was put on the IR with a knee injury. DE Eric Moore was activated from the practice squad to take Ninkovich’s place.

New York Giants
Rookie Gerris Wilkinson is expected to start in place of WLB Carlos Emmons. Emmons is expected to miss two weeks with a pec strain. Wilkinson was very impressive in the preseason.

New York Jets
De Shaun Ellis had 2 sacks, his first in almost a year. After putting up double-digit sacks in 2003 and 2004, he had just 2.5 last year and none after October.

Coming off winning AFC Defensive Player of the Week, SS Kerry Rhodes posted just 5 tackles (3 solo) and a pass defensed as he played through a sore ankle.

CB Justin Miller not only returned a kickoff for a TD, but had 9 solo tackles and a pass defended. Miller started in place of David Barrett, who was inactive with hip and leg problems. Miller still has exponentially more value in league’s that count return stats, but as he continues to stake claim for the starting role even once Barrett is healthy, his overall value is rising. Derrick Strait started again at FS and split time with former starter Erik Coleman. Neither has any value while they job-share.

OLB Eric Barton (8 solo) and ILB Jonathan Vilma (6 solo) led the team in tackles with 11. Rookie LB Anthony Schlegel is yet to be active for a game this year.

Oakland
It looked like a good day when DE Tyler Brayton stripped CLE RB Rueben Droughns and SLB Sam Williams returned it 30 yards for a TD on Cleveland’s first series. However, the Raiders couldn’t protect a 21-3 lead they took late in to the second quarter. Williams, who was inactive before the bye with an ankle sprain, also had 3 solo tackles. CB Nnamdi Asomugha, who was also inactive before the bye with a foot sprain, had his first two picks of his career. DE Derrick Burgess, who led the league with 16 sacks last year, had his first two of this season.

CB Fabian Washington aggravated a hamstring injury he suffered in Week Two and is doubtful for this week. Tyrone Poole is likely to start in his place. Pass rush specialist Lance Johnstone injured his knee during the game and will have an MRI this week.

Philadelphia
SS Michael Lewis (WR, SS) was down for a while after a vicious collision with GB TE Bubba Franks in the second quarter. Lewis returned in the second half and had a pick. FS Brian Dawkins forced a fumble on a big hit, but it went out of bounds before it could be recovered. DE Darren Howard recovered a fumble on a mishandled hand-off deep in Green Bay territory after the Eagles had just turned the ball over the previous drive.

CB Lito Sheppard remained inactive, but is expected to return this week. Rod Hood, who had been replacing him, was inactive. Joselio Hanson got the start.

A report from ESPN's Len Pasquarelli categorically contradicts a report form Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer last week about the severity of the injuries to DE Jevon Kearse. Whereas Glazer reporting extensive damage to the knee and leg, Len reports Kearse's recent knee surgery revealed only meniscus damage and a fractured tibia.

Pittsburgh
SS Troy Polamalu is reportedly fully recovered after the bye from shoulder problems.

St. Louis
After going AWOL before the previous game, DE Tony Hargrove was active on Sunday. However, as expected, rookie Victor Adeyanju remained the starter. He had 4 solo tackles while Hargrove did not post a stat in a reserve role. Adeyanju hasn’t been able to get to the QB, so Hargrove could reclaim his role. One guy who has never had trouble getting to the QB is DE Leonard Little. He had just one sack in the game, his third of the season, but he exploited DET rookie T Jonathan Scott and his DET QB Jon Kitna several times.

MLB Will Witherspoon and SS Corey Chavous led the team with 8 solo tackles. Witherspoon also broke up a crucial pass. With seconds left and Detroit in scoring range, rookie CB Tye Hill was called for pass interference in the end zone. However, the officials gather to discuss and the flag was waved off when they said the pass was tipped before the contact, by Witherspoon, which negates pass interference.

OLB Pisa Tinoisamoa aggravated his dislocated elbow during the game, he has been playing with a brace, but he was able to return to the game. He had a sack and 5 tackles (3 solo).

San Diego
After an arrest last week, SS Terrence Kiel reportedly faces up to five years if convicted of possession and transportation of a controlled substance. He is out on bond and awaiting trial on charges of transporting codeine-based cough syrup, which when mixed with a carbonated beverage is widely known as "purple drank" or "lean," to his home state of Texas. Kiel has been in trouble with the law before and was shot three times in 2003 in an attempted car-jacking. Clinton Hart started at SS in his place on Sunday and had 4 tackles (1 solo). The depth in the secondary took a further his as Bhawoh Jue underwent arthroscopic knee surgery on last Wednesday and is out indefinitely.

LB Steve Foley, who is out for the season after being shot by a police officer last month, underwent multiple knee surgeries as a result of one of the shots. At 31, it is probably not worth holding on to him in dynasty leagues. Shaun Phillips, who took Foley’s place at OLB in the starting lineup, led the team with 7 solo tackles, including a sack on which he forced the fumble and recovered it. OLB Shawne Merriman had his team-leading fourth sack. ILB Donnie Edwards and CB Quentin Jammer each had a pick.

San Francisco
The defense had no sacks, forced no turnovers, and was lit up by Damon Huard. Not much else to say.

CB Shawntae Spencer led the team with 8 solo tackles, but had a pass interference that set up a short TD run and was beaten for a long TD.

Seattle
The Seahawks were thoroughly dominated on both sides of the ball Sunday night. The defense had one sack and forced no turnovers. The sack was by DT Russell Davis, who saw extensive work with Marcus Tubbs inactive. Tubbs had knee surgery and is expected to miss a couple of weeks. The only big production came from MLB Lofa Tatupu leading the team with 11 tackles (9 solo). OLBs Leroy Hill (9 solo) and Julian Peterson (5 solo) each had 9 tackles.

SS Michael Boulware suffered a concussion in the second quarter on a vicious collision with CHI TE John Gilmore. Boulware sat out the second half and Oliver Celestin replaced him. Boulware is expected to play this week.

With Shaun Alexander out, the team had to make a roster move to add RB depth. They cut fan-favorite reserve LB Isaiah Kacyvenski. The special teams captain briefly had a starting role at MLB during his seven-year Seahawk career.

Tampa Bay
CB Brian Kelly is expected to be back in the starting lineup after missing two games. With the team coming off a bye, he had an extra week to rest his turf toe.

Tennessee
There isn’t a whole lot more to add about DT Albert Haynesworth being suspended five games after stomping on Cowboy C Andre Gurode. Gurode needed 30 stitches to close up his face, as the first kick knocked his helmet off, leaving the second spike-to-head. It was probably the worst in-game act in the league since Green Bay DL/thug Charles Martin picked up Bears QB Jim McMahon and tossed him in wrestling move after a play in 1986. That earned Martin just two games. Haynesworth once kicked former teammate Justin Hartwig and had a road rage, so a bit of anger counseling might not be a bad idea either. Randy Starks moves in to the starting lineup while Bad Albert is out. Starks started Sunday as the other normal starting DT, Robaire Smith, was limited by a hamstring. Reserve DE Antwan Odom made his season debut after missing the first three games with a knee injury.

SS Chris Hope quietly leads the league in tackles with 41. He had 10 (8 solo) in the game. He also had his first INT of the year, the only turnover the Titans forced. They had no sacks in the game.

Washington
The pass rush finally got going Sunday, with four sacks that more than doubled what they had done through three games. DE Andre Carter, the free agent brought in to help the rush from the edges, brought good pressure and had his first sack as a Redskin among his 4 tackles (3 solo). Opposite him, Phillip Daniels had his first sack and the first interception of his 11-year career. It came off a pass tipped by CB Kenny Wright. Wright continues to start in place of Shawn Springs, who has not played yet this year as he recovers from abdominal surgery in the preseason. Springs is not expected to play this week either, and is going to see a specialist about his extended recovery. CB Carlos Rogers led the team with 7 tackles (6 solo).