WLB Karlos Dansby led the team with 11 tackles (10 solo), as well as forced a fumble and broke up a pass. SLB Calvin Pace had a sack among his 6 solo tackles, setting a new career high with 5.5 on the season.

Atlanta
Several members of the team, including CB DeAngelo Hall, paid homage to convicted felon QB Mike Vick with messages on their gear or selves, but obviously didn’t care to play with any conviction on the field. No sacks or turnovers, WLB Demorrio Williams led the team with 8 tackles (7 solo), despite sharing snaps with rookie Stephen Nicholas. Someone needs to tell rookie CB Chris Houston to turn his head around and/or stick an arm in the air when he sees a receiver’s head turn and his eyes get big.

Baltimore
The Ravens obviously had a hangover after snatching defeat from the jaws of victory against the Patriots on MNF last week. Turnovers by the offense put them in a hole early and defense was flat. No sacks and no turnovers for the Ravens. MLB Ray Lewis led the team with 9 tackles (5 solo). The absence of their starting corners against the Colts didn’t help. Chris McAllister’s knee flared up and he was out, and appears questionable again this week. Samari Rolle was out with a shoulder injury and is not expected to play this week. Corey Ivy and Derrick Martin started in their place.

Buffalo
FS George Wilson picked up a fumble in the first quarter and took it 20 yards to give the Bills a 21-0 lead. It was his second career TD in his 15th career game. Unfortunately, one of the feel-good stories of the year ended later in the game when Wilson broke two ribs on a kick return later in the quarter. He is done for the regular season, but won’t be placed on the IR right away with playoff hopes still alive in Buffalo. Jim Leonhard replaced him and will regain his starting role. Leonhard replaced Ko Simpson earlier this year when Simpson went on the IR. Then Leonhard got hurt, opening the door for Wilson, who kept the job when Leonhard returned.

DE Chris Kelsay remained inactive with a left ankle injury. Ryan Denney replaced him in the starting lineup for the second straight game and had his first sack of the season, as well as a fumble recovery. DE Aaron Schobel and third DE Anthony Hargrove each had a sack. Schobel has sacks in back-to-back games, but still has just 4.5 in a disappointing season.

Carolina
Already last in the league in sacks, the team was shutout of them again on Sunday. SS Chris Harris and rookie MLB Jon Beason continue to be among the few bright spots on the once-proud CAR D. Harris led the team with 14 tackles (10 solo), forced 2 fumbles, and broke up a pass. Beason had 12 tackles (10 solo) and passed the 100-tackle mark for the season.

CB Ken Lucas left the game in the fourth quarter after hurting himself trying to recover one of the fumbles Harris forced before it went out of bounds. It was reported as a neck injury, but hasn’t been mentioned since, so Lucas should be OK.

Chicago
In a game where they lost starting QB Rex Grossman, the defense continued to be decimated as well. Razor thin at DT already, Antonio Garay left the game in the second quarter with an ankle injury after an unfortunately legal, but ridiculously cheap cut block by WAS OT Chris Samuels. Garay was the third DT in place of Anthony Adams, who was inactive after suffering an elbow and triceps injury in their previous game. Adams and Garay were both put on the IR this week. The status of DT Darwin Walker is also in question for this week after injuring his left elbow in the game. The team promoted DT Babatunde Oshinowo, a sixth-round pick of the Browns last year, from the practice squad. They also signed former STL first-round pick Jimmy Kennedy, who has not played since being cut in training camp by the Broncos. Both should see significant time this week. The team would have been likely to end the season of DT Tommie Harris now that they are out of playoff contention, but they literally don’t have anyone else. Harris continues to battle groin and left knee problems. Harris claimed after the game he was on his way to his eighth sack of the season when a fan ran on the field in the first quarter and the play was stopped. Harris is second on the team with a career-high seven sacks. DE Adewale Ogunleye didn’t add to his team-leading nine sacks, but had another huge game. O-Gun had a 5 solo tackles, a QB hit, and a fumble recovery. He is having his best season as a Bear, already setting a new career high in tackles and his six forced fumble are twice as many as he’s ever had before. Over his last six games, he has 30 tackles, 6 sacks, 5 forced fumbles, and 3 fumble recoveries. On the right side, disappointing Mark Anderson remains the starter, but former starter Alex Brown continues to see significant work on both sides. Brown had his best game of the season with 7 tackles (5 solo), a sack on which he forced the fumble O-Gun recovered, and he batted down a pass. Brown has 15 tackles in the last three games. Anderson continues to struggle to get to the passer despite overplaying the run almost every snap. After starting the season with four sacks in the first four games, Anderson has had just a half-sack twice in the nine games since.

S Adam Archuleta had a less than triumphant return to the place where his career derailed. He finds himself back in WAS and once again out of a starting job on another team. The team went with the lesser of two pass coverage evils as they kept Brandon McGowan the starter at SS for the second straight game in what looks to be a move for the rest of the season. McGowan led the team with 10 tackles (9 solo) and forced a fumble. If your waiver wire is still open, McGowan is a solid addition if you’re hurting in the secondary.

Cincinnati
FS Madieu Williams was inactive with a thigh injury, giving rookie Marvin White his first career start. Williams remains questionable this week. White had 2 tackles (1 solo) and rookie Chinedum Ndukwe also saw work at FS, and was announced as the starter, but White took the first snap. SS Dexter Jackson, who Ndukwe had previously been taking snaps away from, had a huge game. Jackson had 4 tackles (3 solo), including 3 TFL’s on STL RB Steven Jackson, a QB pressure, his second pick of the season, and a forced fumble.

MLB Landon Johnson led the defense with 7 tackles (4 solo). His ankle was sore after the game, he left twice due to problems with it, but finished the game and is expected to play this week. CB Johnathan Joseph also 7 tackles (5 solo, including 3 on special teams).
The team had no sacks, as getting to the QB continues to be a problem for the team. They are second-to-last in the league with just 18 on the year, and no player has even three on the season.

Cleveland
Starting in their nickel package gave Antwan Peek the start over Andra Davis and Leon Williams outside over Willie McGinest. Williams had 1.5 sacks among his 9 tackles (4 solo). Peek left the game early with an ankle sprain and is questionable for this week. OLB Kamerion Wimbley had his fifth sack of the season. ILB D’Qwell Jackson had 10 tackles (6 solo) and leads the team on the season.

CB Daven Holly led the team in the game with 11 tackles (10 solo). Rookie CB Eric Wright dressed, but did not play, after a limited week of practice. He missed his fourth straight game with a sprained left knee.

Dallas
OLB Greg Ellis had 3 solo tackles and the only sack for the Cowboys, on which he forced a fumble. Ellis has five sacks in the last three games and all 11.5 after missing the first three games of the season. In the last few weeks, he has blown by his previous career best (nine), passed Demarcus Ware for the team lead, and Ellis is now tied for third in the league in sacks.

Denver
DE Elvis Dumervil had 3 sacks, forcing a fumble on one, and hit double-digit sacks for the first time in his young career. He leads the team with 11 sacks on the season. SLB Nate Webster led the team with 6 solo tackles.

Detroit
WLB Ernie Sims led the team with 14 tackles (8 solo) and forced a fumble. He is second in the league in tackles. SLB Boss Bailey reportedly woke up with the flu, so he didn’t play. No wonder this team is in a tailspin. Alex Lewis got the start in his place.

After losing his starting job to Jared DeVries on Thanksgiving, DE Kalimba Edwards took another step back as he was left inactive, despite not being injured on Sunday. Instead, rookie DE Ikaika Alama-Francis was active for the first time since Week Four and had a solo tackle. Edwards is expected to remain inactive until Alama-Francis or someone else above him falls. DeVries and fellow starting DE Dewayne White each had a sack. It was number six for DeVries and White leads the team, and set a new career high, with 6.5 sacks on the season.

SS Kenoy Kennedy left in the third quarter with a hamstring injury. He’ll have tests this week to determine the severity. Greg Blue replaced him.

Green Bay
MLB Nick Barnett led the team with 10 tackles (7 solo) and brought some good pressure. He had to leave the game for a bit in the second quarter after getting poked in the eye by OAK C Jeremy Newberry. Barnett returned to the game, but was angry after the game, insinuating it was intentional and that Newberry was a cheap player. Barnett will see an eye specialist this week, but he was able to return to the game after the injury, so he likely to be fine.

CB Charles Woodson returned after missing the previous game with a right big toe injury. CB Al Harris had his second pick of the season. Aaron Rouse is back to a reserve with Nick Collins back at FS. SS Atari Bigby had his second pick of the season. The team has waited for reserve CB Will Blackmon to add value as he has battled injuries his first two years in the league, but he was a huge contributor on Sunday. Blackmon became the first player to return a punt for a TD and recover a fumbled punt for a TD in the same game. He is mostly a special teams player, so don’t bother adding him, but the former fourth-round pick showed some ability to keep in mind for the future.

DE Aaron Kampman was held without a sack for the second straight game, and has just two in his last five games. He is stuck on eleven and has fallen out of the top five in the league. DT Johnny Jolly missed another game with a shoulder sprain. Corey Williams remained the starter next to Ryan Pickett. Third DE Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila returned after missing the previous game with knee and ankle injuries, but had just one solo tackles.

Houston
While NO RB Reggie Bush’s disappointing season looks over due to injury and TEN QB Vince Young struggles with consistency, HOU fans are watching Mario Williams develop in to a force at DE. Williams had a sack for the fourth consecutive game, on the verge of reaching double-digits with a team-leading 9.5 on the season. He has 5.5 sacks among 23 tackles with 2 forced fumbles in his last four games. Rookie DT Amobi Okoye shared a sack, his first since Week Nine, giving him 5.5 so far this season.

WLB Morlon Greenwood led the team with 13 tackles (7 solo), including his first sack of the season, and broke up 2 passes.

Indianapolis
FS Antoine Bethea left the game with a sprained right knee in the first quarter and didn’t return. Rookie Melvin Bullitt saw the first significant action of his career in Bethea’s place, posting 5 tackles (4 solo). SS Bob Sanders led the team with 10 tackles (9 solo). DE Robert Mathis hurt both knees in the first quarter on separate incidents before finally leaving after the second. He was scheduled for an MRI on Monday and the results haven’t been communicated, but Mathis did practice on Monday. Bethea also had an MRI, but did not practice, so he seems more questionable early this week.

MLB Gary Brackett continues his outstanding play, particularly in pass defense. He grabbed a pick on Baltimore’s second possession and returned it 49-yards to set up a TD for a 21-0 IND lead. It was the drive after a forced fumble by Mathis set up another TD off a return of the fumble by CB Marlin Jackson. In the third quarter, Brackett had a pick in the end zone. Bracket also had 9 tackles (6 solo) to go over the 100-tackle mark for the season. He leads the team in tackles and is tied for the interception lead with four.

DT Raheem Brock was inactive with injured ribs and is expected to miss this week, as well. Rookie Keyunta Dawson started in his place next to rookie Ed Johnson at DT, while rookie Quinn Pitcock saw more snaps and got his first two career sacks.

Jacksonville
DT Marcus Stroud returned from his four-game suspension, but rolled his right ankle in the third quarter and didn’t return. He is questionable this week, with more information expected on Wednesday. The team was already thin on the DLine as DE Reggie Hayward was out with a groin injury he suffered early in their previous game. He is expected to be out this week, as well. Instead of giving Bobby McCray, who has been extremely disappointing after getting ten sacks last year and the highest RFA tender this year, another shot in the starting lineup, the versatile Rob Meier got the start in place of Hayward across from Paul Spicer. However, when Stroud went down, Meier slid back inside and McCray got more work. McCray still has no sacks this season and is unlikely to be back with the team next year.

MLB Darryl Smith led the team with 6 tackles (5 solo), including a sack, and recovered a fumble. OLB Clint Ingram got his first pick of the season and returned it 39-yards for his first career TD to put the game away on the first play of the fourth quarter.

Kansas City
After two sacks last week, DE Jared Allen was held sackless for the third time in the last four games. He is still tied for third in the league and leads the team with 11.5 sacks this season. On the other side, DE Tamba Hali had his third sack in the last four games and sixth of the season.

SS Bernard Pollard (8 solo) and MLB Napoleon Harris (7 solo) led the team with 9 tackles. OLB Derrick Johnson played despite the death of his father last week. He had just 1 solo in the game.

Miami
The team finally put MLB Zach Thomas on the IR last week, then lost Channing Crowder for the week with a foot sprain. Donnie Spragan got the start in the middle and hurt his neck during the game, but was able to finish. UDFA rookie Edmond Miles, one of their top special teams players, had been working with the first team at MLB in place of Crowder at practice last week, but Spragan got the nod. Derrick Pope remained the starter at WLB. Pope (5 solo) and FS Jason Allen (7 solo) led the team with 8 tackles each. SLB Joey Porter battled shoulder problems last week, but started and is expected to play this week. Crowder also seems likely to return.

DE Jason Taylor had 5 tackles (3 solo) and forced a fumble he recovered. He tweaked his ankle during the game, but returned to finish the game. The team had no sacks. DE Matt Roth remained inactive with a groin injury. CB Michael Lehan was inactive with a groin injury, so Travis Daniels returned to the starting lineup in his place. SS Lance Schulters got his first start as a Dolphin and posted 7 tackles (3 solo) and broke up 2 passes.

Minnesota
Just 14 seconds in to the game, DT Kevin Williams returned a pick for a TD for the second time this year. He also had a fumble return for a TD called back on penalty this year. It was the fourth career interception and TD for Williams. Later in the game, fellow DT Pat Williams had a pick fall in his hands after it slipped out of QB Shaun Hill’s hands, making Kevin and Pat the first DT teammates to both have a pick in the same game in NFL history. Pat also had a sack in the game. However, there appears to be a bit of controversy on the pick by Pat. Elias Sports Bureau has ruled it a fumble by the QB and fumble recovery by Pat after the fact.

Depth at end took two big hits last week. DE Erasmus James was put on the IR after aggravating his surgically-repaired left knee in the previous game. James has already undergone surgery twice on the knee since blowing his ACL and spraining his MCL early last season. HC Brad Childress did not say if the ACL was torn again, which has been rumored, but said it was not career threatening. However, if it is torn again, at least the 2008 season is in question for James. This came on the heels of news that DE Ray Edwards was suspended four games for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. Edwards should be back in time for the real NFL playoffs, but is done for the fantasy season. That turn of events left rookie Brian Robison the starter at RDE and gives him a huge bump as he was already second on the team with 4.5 sacks despite his snaps limited by their (previous) depth at the position. The team signed DE Otis Grigsby to add depth.

WLB Chad Greenway led the team with 13 tackles (8 solo, including a solo and assist on special teams). MLB E.J. Henderson just missed taking a fumble recovery back for a TD in the second quarter and recovered another in the fourth quarter. He also had 4 tackles (2 solo).

CB Antoine Winfield returned after missing the last two games, and four of the last five, with a hamstring injury. He had 6 tackles (3 solo). Reserve safeties Mike Doss (hamstring) and Tank Williams (knee) were both inactive.

New England
ILB Adalius Thomas had 5 tackles (3 solo), including his fourth sack of the season. The move to inside might be the best fit for the NE D, but the way he is used has all but killed his fantasy value. SS Rodney Harrison led the team with 11 tackles (9 solo) and broke up a pass.

New Orleans
FS Josh Bullocks was a late scratch when he hurt his quad warming up before the game. Kevin Kaesviharn started in his place. After giving up a long TD in the previous game, SS Roman Harper had been benched in favor of Kaesviharn. With depth thin on Monday night, Harper was safe and helped his cause with a 31-yard TD return on a pick in the third quarter.

DE Will Smith was superb, bringing good pressure resulting in a sack and leading the team with 8 tackles (7 solo), as well as forcing a fumble. Smith leads the team in sacks with six and has heated up in the second half of the season. He has five sacks in his last seven games.

New York Giants
After no sacks in his first three games of the season, DE Osi Umenyiora jumpstarted his season when he racked up six against the Eagles in Week Four. On Sunday he got just one in Philly, but it was good enough to keep at second in the league overall with 12 on the season.

MLB Antonio Pierce was not expected to play, as he has been battling an ankle sprain from Week 12. However, he was out there again and finished with 3 tackles (2 solo) and broke up 2 passes. He remains questionable again this week and Chase Blackburn would likely get the start if Pierce needs a game off to heal. WLB Kawika Mitchell led the team with 10 tackles (8 solo).

The defense was without both starting safeties, as FS Gibril Wilson missed his second straight game with a knee sprain. He remains questionable and is unlikely to practice this week, but could still play. SS James Butler was a late scratch when he couldn’t overcome a hamstring injury. Rookies Michael Johnson (SS), a seventh-round pick, and Craig Dahl (FS), an UDFA, got the starts and played well. Each had 5 tackles (4 solo) and Johnson broke up a pass. The secondary also had rookie CB Aaron Ross playing on a sore hamstring, so he was limited to nickel package while nickel CB Kevin Dockery ran in the base defense.

New York Jets
The Jets shook up their lineup on Sunday, moving DE Shaun Ellis to OLB over Victor Hobson, DE C.J. Mosely started at end in place of Ellis, Sione Pouha started at NT over Dewayne Robertson, and Brad Kassell started inside over Eric Barton. Robertson, who is not considered a good fit for Mangini’s defense but has played well through injuries this year, rotated in regularly, as did Barton. Hobson saw less work and Matt Chatham continues to work inside on passing downs. The results offered no improvement. The team had no sacks and just one QB hit, by Ellis. The tackling was poor, particularly on a 31-yard TD run by CLE RB Jamal Lewis to clinch the victory late in the game. Rookie ILB David Harris led the team with 9 tackles (5 solo).

Oakland
Stuart Schweigert’s calf is fine, but Hiram Eugene remained the starting FS for the third consecutive game and has replaced Schweigert in the base defense. Eugene had 6 tackles (3 solo), while Schweigert still worked in pass packages and had his second pick of the season, the only turnover forced by the defense. They also had no sacks. SLB Robert Thomas led the team with 9 tackles (7 solo).

Philadelphia
In a match-up of two of the top pass rushers in the league, DE Trent Cole bested NYG DE Osi Umenyiora two sacks to one, but the Giants got the victory. Cole is tied for third in the league, a half-sack behind Umenyiora, with 11.5 on the season. On the other side, Juqua Thomas remained the starter at LDE, posting a solo tackle on which he forced a fumble he recovered. Thomas also batted down a pass. Jevon Kearse and Darren Howard were active, but neither appeared in the box score.

MLB Omar Gaither led the team with 10 tackles (7 solo). He also forced a fumble that DT Mike Patterson recovered. Patterson hurt his ankle in the game, but is expected to be fine this week.

SS Quintin Mikell returned after missing two games with a sprained MCL. He broke up a pass and had 5 solo tackles. J.R. Reed, who played well in Mikell’s absence, returned to a reserve role. FS Brian Dawkins suffered back spasms during the game, but was able to finish.

Pittsburgh
FS Anthony Smith was beat for two TDs, including one on a triple pass, and probably won’t be guaranteeing anything else any time soon. SS Troy Polamalu aggravated his sprained knee at practice last week and swelling prevented him from practicing any more. The setback cost him his third straight game. Tyrone Carter continued to start in his place, posting 4 solo tackles and forcing a fumble.

DE Aaron Smith suffered a torn biceps during the game and tried to come back several times. He was placed on the IR and is done for the season, a huge blow to the defense. Travis Kirschke should see most of the work in place of Smith, although Nick Eason started when Smith was out earlier this season.

St. Louis
WLB Chris Draft led the team with 12 tackles (8 solo). Third DE Eric Moore had his first career sack.

Corners Fakhir Brown and Ronald Bartell each had a pick. Brown set a new career high with his fourth pick of the season. Bartell also broke up another pass, had 8 solo tackles, and forced a fumble. He will start the rest of the season as Tye Hill went on the IR with a wrist

San Diego
While the offense struggled in the first half, OLB Shawne Merriman got two sacks and just missed a third when TEN QB Vince Young was flushed out and gained a yard before Merriman got him. However, Merriman sprained his left knee in the second quarter and would not return after halftime. He is out this week and expected to miss another week. Merriman was red hot as a pass rusher the last couple of weeks, getting 5 sacks in his last two games (which amounted to six quarters) and is tied for third in the league with 11.5 on the season. Marques Harris replaced him and should get the start while he is out.

Despite thumb surgery last week, Jacques Cesaire continued to start at DE for Luis Castillo, who is expected to miss at least another week after surgery on a right ankle tendon earlier this year. Cesaire had 7 tackles (4 solo) and is expected to play this week.

ILB Matt Wilhelm led the team with 10 tackles (7 solo) and grabbed his second pick of the season. CB Antonio Cromartie widened his NFL lead in interceptions, grabbing his ninth pick on Sunday.

San Francisco
DRoY lock ILB Patrick Willis faced ORoY lock MIN RB Adrian Peterson and while Willis won the individual battle, SF lost the game. Willis led the team with 8 tackles (6 solo), had another erased by penalty, and recovered a fumble. He leads the NFL in tackles.

After battling a left ankle sprain the last several weeks, ILB Jeff Ulbrich suffered a high ankle sprain in his right ankle and is questionable this week. CB Shawtae Spencer was inactive with a quad injury and is doubtful for this week.

Seattle
DE Patrick Kerney had 3 sacks in a game for the third time in four weeks. He led the team with 7 tackles (6 solo), as well. His ridiculous run has propelled him to the league lead with 13.5 sacks, a new career best, on the season. Not to be outdone, CB Marcus Trufant grabbed three picks in the game, including returning one 84 yards for a TD. He set a new career best and is second in the league.

Tampa Bay
DE Greg Spires remained sidelined with a torn left calf despite fully practicing last week. First-round pick Gaines Adams continues to replace him as a starter at RDE, while Kevin Carter started despite a groin injury, but third DE Greg White continues to thrive. White had all three of the TB sacks in the game to raise his team-leading total for the season to 8.5 sacks. He forced fumbles on two sacks, both recovered by DT Jovan Haye, giving White six forced fumbles on the season. I discussed White’s past and rise this season two weeks ago and the 28-year old rookie remains one of the top IDP stories this year despite the presence of a top-five rookie pick ahead of him.

CB Rhonde Barber led the team with 10 tackles (8 solo). After a slow start this season, Barber has produced well since their Week Ten bye. In those four games, he has 22 tackles, a fumble recovery and his only a sack and pick of the season. On the other hand, MLB Barrett Rudd has been extremely disappointing in the second half of the season after a breakout first half. Since Week Eight, Ruud has just one double-digit tackle game and after being involved in seven turnovers the first four weeks, Ruud has just one pick since.

Tennessee
DE Kyle Vanden Bosch had a flashback to his breakout 2005 season on Sunday as he racked up three sacks among his team-high 8 tackles (7 solo) and had an amazing 7 QB hits altogether. Vanden Bosch leads the team with nine sacks this season. DT Albert Haynesworth had his sixth sack, doubling his previous best season. He mentioned his right hamstring acted up late in the game, which coincided with a late run by SD to tie and win the game in OT, but HC Jeff Fisher said Haynesworth’s hamstring was “much better” on Monday than it was a week ago.

After teasing fantasy owners with 14 tackles in Week 12, WLB Keith Bulluck was back to just 5 in their previous game before bottoming out with a season-low 1 solo tackles on Sunday. If you held out hope after Week 12, give it up and put Bulluck back on the bench for the playoffs if you have any other decent options.

After leaving Week 12 with a concussion, SS Chris Hope has also been diagnosed with a spinal cord injury and was put on the IR. HC Jeff Fisher said the injury isn’t career-threatening. Calvin Lowry, who was bumped as starting FS by rookie Michael Griffin, is now locked in at SS for the rest of the season. Griffin dinged his knee during the game, but was able to return. Griffin and Lowry both had 7 tackles (5 solo) and each grabbed their second pick of the season. CB Nick Harper had his third pick of the season.

Washington
Yet to have a pick on the season entering the game, CB Shawn Springs intercepted passes on consecutive plays on two drives late in the second quarter. The first one led to a TD for WAS to break a scoreless tie before halftime. CB Fred Smoot went down with dehydration and cramps so bad he couldn’t make it back to the bench in the third quarter. The trainers attended to him on Washington’s sideline before carting him of the field. He reportedly was throwing up blood in the locker room, but still returned for the final CHI drive, so he should be OK this week. Reed Doughty continues to start at FS and shared his first career sack with DE Andre Carter. Carter leads the team with 8.5 sacks this season, the most since his only double-digit sack season with SF in 2002.

After three games without double-digit tackles, MLB London Fletcher led the team with 12 tackles (9 solo) and also broke up 2 passes. He is tied for fifth in the league in tackles on the season. SLB Marcus Washington easily racked up his fifth sack of the season when he ran unabated to the QB in the second quarter after CHI apparently thought it was a good idea to leave him unblocked. He has two sacks in his last three games and appears over the lingering hamstring injury that plagued him midway through the season.