DE/OLB Travis LaBoy was back in the starting lineup after battling a lingering groin injury. He had four solo tackles. Bert Berry was back to backing LaBoy up. Berry had one solo tackle. CB Eric Green (knee) was inactive, so Ralph Brown worked as the nickel. First-round pick CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie previously passed Green to start opposite Rod Hood.

Atlanta
As usual, DE John Abraham spent a lot of time in the opposing backfield, picking up his 11th sack of the season with four QB hurries in the game. It was the only sack for ATL in the game. He leads the NFC and remains tied for second in the league in sacks. Abraham got a stinger in his shoulder in the first half, but returned to the game. FS Erik Coleman grabbed his team-leading third pick of the season and led the team nine tackles (six solo), as well as forcing a fumble. CB Chris Houston had his second pick of the season and rookie nickel CB Chevis Jackson returned his first career pick 95 yards for a TD late in the fourth quarter. Former starter Brent Grimes has been demoted down to special teams work with Domonique Foxworth taking over as the starter opposite Houston after the Week Seven bye and Jackson leap-frogging him as the nickel.

Baltimore
MLB Ray Lewis led the team with eight tackles (five solo) and grabbed his first two picks of the season. One was tipped by DT Haloti Ngata and the other was a lazy short pass over the middle by HOU QB Sage Rosenfels. Ngata got his second pick of the season when he tipped a pass to himself in the end zone on a first-and-goal from the one for the Texans. CB Samari Rolle also had his pick in his first game back since Week Three after undergoing surgery for a bulging disc in his neck. Rolle started opposite Fabian Washington, who will remain in the starting lineup as CB Chris McAlister has decided to call it a season. After battling a torn PCL and cartilage in his right knee that has limited him lately, McAlister opted for surgery and was placed on the IR. SS Dawan Landry (spinal cord concussion) joined him. Jim Leonhard’s value is locked in for the rest of the season.

DE Trevor Pryce had his fourth sack of the season. Week Eight hero rookie UDFA OLB Jameel McClain shared a sack with fellow reserve DE tweener Edgar Jones. Reserve CB Evan Oglesby continued to see significant time despite the return of Rolle.

Buffalo
With NE dominating time of possession, there were plenty of tackles opportunities for the Bills. DE Ryan Denney (eight solo), FS Ko Simpson (seven solo), and WLB Kawika Mitchell (five solo) led the team with 11 tackles. MLB Paul Posluszny had ten tackles (six solo). Mitchell is playing through an ankle sprain. With depth razor thin at LB already, the team added LB Teddy Lehman last week, but he was inactive when Mitchell was deemed healthy enough to play.

Denney continued to start in place of DE Aaron Schobel, who missed his fourth game and is likely out the rest of the month. A defense reeling from injuries got nothing but more bad news last week. There was finally some clarification on Schobel’s injury last week after seeing a foot specialist. He reportedly does not need surgery, but his bone bruise and torn tendon on a toe will need a lot more time to heal. After missing three straight games, CB Ashton Youboty was placed on the IR with plantar fasciitis. It was fourth-round pick Reggie Corner, not first-round pick Leodis McKelvin, who moved in to the nickel. However, McKelvin had a great day as the primary kick returner, bringing one back 85 yards. Another hit to the secondary was SS Donte Whitner being out, as expected, with a separated shoulder. Bryan Scott replaced him in the base defense, with George Wilson rotating in for pass packages. Scott had seven tackles (five solo). Whitner is expected to miss this week, as well.

Carolina
DE Julius Peppers had his most dominating performance in a couple years, posting his a three-sack game almost exactly two years to the day since his last. Peppers abused starting OAK LT Kwame Harris so bad, they brought in rookie back-up Mario Henderson, but the results were the same. In addition to the three sacks, giving him seven for the season, he forced fumbles on two of them, had four other solo tackles, and batted down a pass. Peppers left briefly in the third quarter holding his arm, but returned shortly. WLB Thomas Davis had his first sack of the season and third DE Charles Johnson also had one. Johnson now has 4.5 on the season and three in his last two games. Davis had ten tackles altogether (eight solo).

Some key picks helped offset an offense that struggled at times. Nickel CB Richard Marshall had his first pick of the season in the end zone on a drive after the offense had one of their own and gave OAK great field position. CB Chris Gamble had his second pick of the season in CAR territory to help protect an eight-point lead early in the fourth quarter. MLB Jon Beason led the team with 15 tackles (11 solo) and broke up a pass.

Chicago
The Bears loss can be attributed to inability to get to the QB. They shut down the run, holding the Titan’s NFL-leading rushing game to negative five yards in the first half, but when TEN made adjustments at halftime and came out passing, QB Kerry Collins had all day in the pocket. The team had one sack by DE Adewale Ogunleye. It was just the second game this season in which Ogunleye got to the QB. He has 2.5 for the year. WLB Lance Briggs led the team with 13 tackles (11 solo), including two for a loss. FS Mike Brown had a lot of big tackles too among his eight (seven solo), also with two for a loss. MLB Brian Urlacher had just five tackles (four solo), although two were for a loss.

CB Charles Tillman aggravated his shoulder problems he has been battling in practice last week, but still started and saw a full workload. He had seven solo tackles and broke up a pass. CB Corey Graham moved to the nickel despite DB Danieal Manning returning from a hamstring. Graham remains a good play. He posted five solo tackles, including one on special teams, and recovered a big fumble when TEN FB Ahmad Hall lost the handle on a fourth-and-goal from the one-yard line. It was the first time this season the Titans didn’t score on a red zone possession. It looked like Graham had the stop even if Hall had not fumbled. SLB Hunter Hillenmeyer remained sidelined with a thumb injury. Nick Roach started in his place and had three assists.

Cincinnati
The team activated OLB Darryl Blackstock from the suspended list and cut CB Geoffrey Pope to make room for him.

Cleveland
Already battling sore ribs, NT Shaun Rogers fell on his left wrist during a tackle in the third quarter and came up cringing in pain. He left the game and the injury was reported as a stinger. He returned after missing a few series and finished with two solo tackles. OLB Kamerion Wimbley had the only sack in the game, just his second of the season. After 11 sacks his rookie season, he managed just five last year and is on pace for even less this season. He has little value in most leagues until he can start getting to the QB regularly again. ILB D’Qwell Jackson led the team with 11 tackles (seven solo), his sixth double-digit tackle game of the season. He leads the league with 88 tackles on the season.

CB Brandon McDonald had a rough game Thursday night, getting burned for TDs by both DEN WR Brandon Marshall and rookie WR Eddie Royal, as well as dropping a pick. His stats were two solo tackles and three passes defensed. FS Brodney Pool had his second pick of the season, the only turnover for the defense, when Marshall broke the wrong way on a pass in the second quarter. It was one of the few times the defense had an answer for DEN QB Jay Cutler, who threw for a career-high 477 yards in leading his team back from a ten-point fourth quarter deficit.

Dallas
CB Terence Newman is expected to return coming out of the bye, pushing rookie Mike Jenkins back to a reserve role. It appears Jenkins won’t play the nickel as fellow rookie Orlando Scandrick has played well there. Reserve OLB Anthony Spencer has been taking snaps from starter Greg Ellis and could even take over in a starting role this week.

Denver
With SLB Boss Bailey out for the season and WLB D.J. Williams on the shelf for a month with a torn MCL, the last thing the defense needed to see was MLB Nate Webster limping off the field in the first quarter. He has a second-degree MCL sprain in his left knee and is expected to miss a few weeks. Niko Koutouvides replaced him, but had just one assist, as the other two reserve LBs were all over the field. WLB Wesley Woodyard had ten solo tackles, including two for a loss. An UDFA out of Kentucky, Woodyard was the leading tackler in the SEC the last two years, but fell out of the draft because of his size. SLB Jaime Winborn led the team with 13 tackles (12 solo) and broke up a pass. Winborn is the guy to pick up, if he’s still available, but be aware he is injury prone. Woodyard looks like a decent addition while Williams is out, while Koutouvides, who projected to be the starting MLB in the off-season, looks to have limited value. Louis Green also some work with the LBs.

CB Champ Bailey missed his second game with a groin injury. Karl Paymah continued to start in his place, posting six tackles (five solo, including one on special teams) and recovered a fumble when CB Dre Bly stripped the ball free on a key play in the fourth quarter that helped Denver’s late comeback. Bailey really wants to play next week as he returns home to Georgia for a visit to the Falcons. FS Marlon McCree (left high ankle sprain) was inactive, as expected. Calvin Lowry started in his place. The team had no sacks.

Detroit
As if this team needed any more problems, they lost both their defensive ends in the game. DE Dewayne White limped off the field in the first quarter with an apparent calf injury and did not return. Jared DeVries also left in the first half with a broken hand. Rookie Cliff Avril and Corey Smith replaced them. Smith got his second sack of the season. White is expected to miss at least this week, finally giving Avril and Ikaika Alama-Francis significant opportunities. DeVries need surgery and will miss at least this week. Smith should replace him in the base defense, giving the other two ends more snaps, as well. DT Cory Redding brought some good pressure, but didn’t get a sack.

SS Daniel Bullocks led the team with 11 tackles (five solo). WLB Ernie Sims had just five tackles (two solo) as he continues to battle a shoulder problem that has hampered his production the last three games. He still leads the team in tackles by a significant margin and is on pace to be over 100 for the year. FS Dwight Smith missed his third game with a foot sprain. Kalvin Pearson continues to replace him. Rookie LB Jordon Dizon was active after missing the last few games with a hamstring. He has started working outside and may no longer be viewed as the future in the middle.

Green Bay
MLB Nick Barnett suffered a right knee injury in the first series of the third quarter and left the game. He didn’t return and was concerned after that game that it was serious. His fears were confirmed when HC Mike McCarthy reported Barnett tore a ligament and is done for the season. Desmond Bishop replaced him in the game and posted six solo tackles. Barnett had five solo and broke up a pass before leaving. Bishop is a former sixth-round draft pick who is a solid run defender, but struggles in coverage. The Vikings immediately exploited this when MIN RB Chester Taylor took a short pass 47 yards for a TD off Bishop soon after he entered the game. Bishop also stripped MIN RB Adrian Peterson on one of his six solo tackles on defense. There is still a question if Bishop will get the first shot to replace Barnett. Reserve Brandon Chillar also has extensive starting experience and they could also consider moving A.J. Hawk back to his collegiate position in the middle. SLB Brady Poppinga led the team with 11 tackles (five solo).

DE Aaron Kampman shared a sack with reserve DT Colin Cole. It was the first for time Kampman got to the QB since Week Six. CB Charles Woodson, FS Nick Collins, and nickel CB Tramon Williams each had a pick. It was the fifth for Woodson and Collins and the fourth for Williams. Collins returned his for a TD. Woodson and Collins broke out of a big tie to take over the league lead in interceptions.

Houston
MLB DeMeco Ryans got back on track, leading the team with 11 solo tackles. It was his third double-digit tackle game of the season and first since Week Three. His return to form is coming at a good time because the defense took a huge blow when SLB and leading tackler Zach Diles broke his left tibia practice last week. He is done for the season. Kevin Bentley replaced Diles at SLB and picked up where he left off, posting seven tackles (four solo) and getting a sack. WLB Morlon Greenwood rolled his ankle in the game and his status is in question. Rookie OLB Xavier Adibi, who saw some work helping replace Diles, could get the start if Greenwood is out. LB Kevis Coley was activated from the practice squad to fill Diles’ roster spot. He’ll play special teams.

DT Amobi Okoye missed the game with a high ankle sprain. Third DE Earl Cochran had a sack for the second straight game. Nick Ferguson (SS) and Eugene Wilson (FS) remain the starting safety tandem, while Fred Bennett has returned to starting at corner.

Indianapolis
DE Dwight Freeney had two sacks, forcing a fumble on his first and another huge one on the Steelers’ final drive to help preserve the victory. Freeney is tied with DE Robert Mathis for the team lead with five. While he is showing some improvement over the last two disappointing injury-prone years, he is still on pace to fall short of double-digit sacks. His sack production is erratic and he offers no value outside of sacks, so he is still a risky start.

WLB Freddy Keiaho (knee) returned to the staring lineup and Tyjuan Hagler to the bench. Keiaho had ten tackles (five solo). SS Antoine Bethea led the team with 11 tackles (six solo), including one for a loss. Starting corners Tim Jennings and Keiwan Ratliff each had a pick. Reserve S Melvin Bullitt had his team leading third pick on a tipped Hail Mary for the final play of the game. CB Kelvin Hayden missed his fourth game with a knee injury.

Jacksonville
Turmoil over their disappointing season boiled over last week when MLB Mike Peterson and HC Jack Del Rio reportedly had a heated exchange in a team meeting on Monday. Peterson was sent home when he showed up for practice on Wednesday. He was sent home again on Thursday, but Del Rio met with Peterson on Friday and he was reinstated, although still left a healthy scratch on Sunday. Darryl Smith moved to the middle and Justin Durant filled his WLB job, with Clint Ingram remaining at SLB. Smith responded with his best game of the season, posting seven tackles (five solo), including a solo sack and sharing another with rookie third DE Derrick Harvey, who also had a solo of his own. They were the first sacks Harvey’s career. Hopefully this was the zenith of a disappointing season so far for Peterson. He is just shy of a pace to even post 100 tackles this year. His sub-par play comes off a preseason where he was frustrated at not receiving an extension. It’s hard to blame the team for not throwing more money at Peterson considering he is 32 and hasn’t played a full season since 2005.

DT John Henderson is inactive with a MCL sprain. Tony McDaniel started in his place. CB Rashean Mathis played through a foot injury to post five solo tackles and break up three passes, including grabbing his team-leading third pick of the season. SS Gerald Sensabaugh led the team with seven solo tackles, including one on special teams. He remains the starter with Brian Williams starting back at CB again.

Kansas City
Despite missing more than half of their starters and top back-ups, the Chiefs gave the Chargers a run for their money. I’m not sure if that is more of an indictment of the Chargers offense or the starters on the Chiefs defense. DE Turk McBride was inactive with a shoulder injury and Alfonso Boone started in his place. McBride is expected to miss this week, and perhaps the season, while the news at end got worse during the game on Sunday. DE Tamba Hali suffered a right ankle injury in the game and his back-up, rookie Brian Johnston, suffered a calf injury. Neither is expected to play this week. First-round pick Glenn Dorsey had his first career sack in the game. OLB Derrick Johnson was inactive after injuring his hamstring in the previous game. Rocky Boiman started in his place. Johnson’s status is also in question this week.

FS Jarrad Page aggravated his groin injury in the game, giving Jon McGraw some work. McGraw led the team with 11 tackles (nine solo, including one on special teams) and forced a fumble on a kick return. SS Bernard Pollard had ten tackles (nine solo). Both McGraw and Pollard had their first picks of the season. Rookie CB Brandon Flowers (hamstring) and Patrick Surtain (quad) were both inactive, so Maurice Leggett got the start. Surtain is expected to remain out this week and Flowers is uncertain. The team released CB Tyron Brackenridge and Dimitri Patterson the previous week. To plug the holes in the secondary, they signed street free agents David Macklin and Ricardo Colclough.

You’ll need to check the Wednesday injury report and follow updates if you plan to start just about any Chief this week. At this point, I’d say McBride and Surtain are definitely out. It doesn’t look good for Hali, Johnson, or Johnston. Cautious optimism for Flowers.

Miami
OLB Joey Porter was “held” to just sharing a sack with LB Charlie Anderson among his three tackles (two solo). He still leads the league with 12 on the season. OLB Matt Roth got to the QB for the first time since Week Five, sharing a sack with DE Randy Starks. DE Vonnie Holliday had his first solo sack of the season. SS Yeremiah Bell (eight solo) and ILB Channing Crowder (seven solo) led the team with nine tackles.

Minnesota
DE Jared Allen started despite a third-degree sprain, the most severe, of the AC joint in his right shoulder. He suffered the injury the previous week in perhaps a bit of instant karma. Allen’s cheap shots on HOU QB Matt Schaub in that game knocked Schaub out for a month. HC Brad Childress indicated last week that “pain tolerance” will be the major factor in Allen being able to play. It didn’t slow Allen down on his way to his eighth sack of the season for a safety in the second quarter. Earlier in the quarter, DT Kevin Williams stripped GB QB Aaron Rodgers, knocking the ball in the end zone. When Rodgers tried to flip it out, it was ruled intentional grounding and a safety. Williams should have gotten credit for a sack on the play, but the scorer just had a tackle and forced fumble. Look for a scoring change later this week. Allen has six sacks in the last four games.

SLB Chad Greenway led the team in tackles with seven (six solo), including his third sack of the season. Greenway leads the team in tackles on the season. MLB Napoleon Harris and third DE Brian Robison each had their first sack of the season.

Nickel CB Charles Gordon suffered a gruesome leg injury on a punt return in the second quarter and was carted off the field. He is done for the season with a dislocated left ankle. Benny Sapp should step in at nickel, but it is also an opportunity for second-year CB Marcus McCauley. After seeing some starting opportunities due to injury as a rookie last year, McCauley was injured in the preseason and then fell to the bottom of the depth chart. He has been a healthy scratch for several games this year.

New England
After losing their starting QB, RB, and SS so far, the team suffered another devastating injury to a playmaker. OLB Adalius Thomas broke his left forearm and is expected to miss at least the rest of the regular season and will probably go on the IR this week. He was replaced by Pierre Woods after the injury in the second quarter. A team that prides itself on depth now has to deal with the loss of a versatile star that was in on almost 100% of the snaps on defense. Woods is in his third season out of Michigan who was signed as an UDFA. An athletic tweener who was a solid, but unspectacular, collegiate performer. He put up some good numbers in workouts, but on the field he struggled against the run as an end or to handle all the assignments and reads as a linebacker. Woods has been primarily a special team player in the pros and his next NFL start will be his first. Depth at OLB took a hit last week before the game when rookie Shawn Crable was placed on the IR.

Starting ends Ty Warren and Richard Seymour each had a sack. Starting corners Deltha O’Neal and Ellis Hobbs each had a pick. Warren led the team with seven tackles (five solo). It was the fifth sack of the season for Seymour, the most he’s had since 2004. Rookie ILB Jerod Mayo had six tackles (four solo) and broke up a pass. He could also see some work outside as UDFA rookie Gary Guyton has seen work inside. Rookie nickel CB Terrence Wheatley was inactive with a wrist injury suffered in the previous game. Still without CB Lewis Sanders, who missed his third game with a hamstring injury, the team brought back veteran CB Jason Webster, who was one of the final cuts before the season. If they don’t put Thomas on the IR, the team needs to make a decision this week on one of their corners in order to add another OLB for depth.

New Orleans
CB Mike McKenzie was carted off the field in pain in the third quarter with a broken right kneecap. Aaron Glenn replaced him, but suffered a left ankle injury and may not be ready to move in to the starting lineup this week. It is the same knee McKenzie blew late last year, tearing the ACL and meniscus. He will be placed on the IR and his career is in question at 33 after two major injuries to the same knee in less than 11 months. CB Leigh Torrence, just released by the Redskins, was signed to fill McKenzie’s roster spot. Jason David probably gets the start at corner if Glenn can’t go, but Torrence could also be in the picture. Bobby McCray debuted as the new starter at LDE, with Charles Grant done for the season, and posted three tackles (two solo). The team had no sacks in the game.

SLB Scott Fujita led the team with 12 tackles (11 solo), including one for a loss. MLB Jonathan Vilma, who leads the team in tackles on the season by a wide margin, had just three tackles (two solo). The team forced no turnovers.

New York Giants
SS James Butler was out with a knee injury suffered in the previous game despite practicing Thu. Rookie Kenny Phillips got the start at SS with James Butler out and posted five solo tackles. Veteran Sammy Knight saw some work there, as well. Butler was inactive with a knee injury, but could return this week. MLB Antonio Pierce led the team with eight tackles (seven solo). Chase Blackburn got another start at WLB and while he posted just one solo tackles on defense, he had three on special teams and recovered a fumble on a kick return in the first quarter. Rookie Bryan Kehl is battling a toe injury, but he was active and it appears Blackburn has passed him. Gerris Wilkinson added an ankle injury while trying to return from his MCL sprain and missed his fifth straight game. Wilkinson will try to return this week, but Blackburn looks like the only guy with value of the three.

Already down nickel CB Kevin Dockery (back), the team took a hit at corner when Corey Webster left with a groin injury. Veteran Sam Madison got some more work, resulting in his first pick of the season. Webster returned to the game and should play this week, but Dockery is expected to remain out, so rookie Terrell Thomas remains the nickel.

New York Jets
SS Abram Elam continues to be a big playmaker, getting involved in a defensive score for the second consecutive week. In the previous game, he returned his first career pick 92 yards for a TD. On Sunday, he blasted STL QB Marc Bulger from his blindside in the first quarter for his first career sack and knocked the ball loose. OLB Calvin Pace recovered the fumble and took it 50 yards for a TD. Pace also shared a sack with ILB Eric Barton. Elam took over SS, pushing Kerry Rhodes to FS, when Eric Smith suffered a concussion, but it looks like Elam will hold on to the starting job when Smith returns. Smith is not expected to return this week regardless, so Elam remains a solid play. Ty Law returned for his second stint with the Jets and was reunited with HC Eric Mangini, who worked with him as the DC in NE. He isn’t expected to start, but should be used in a variety of roles to help in pass packages. Interesting timing, with the Jets set to face the Pats this Thursday. The team released CB Justin Miller to make room for Law. A former second-round pick, Miller had been a healthy scratch lately after plummeting down the depth chart at corner and losing his return duties to RB Leon Washington. Miller has good upside as a returner, so someone should bring him in soon.

Barton led the team with ten tackles (eight solo). He leads the team on the season, as well. ILB David Harris remained inactive and had surgery last week for his hip and groin problems. He is expected to miss at least two more weeks. David Bowens got the start, but Cody Spencer also worked in, as well, and posted seven tackles (five solo, including two on special teams).

Oakland
As rumored last week, CB DeAngelo Hall was released. If there was any question whether or not Al Davis has completely lost it, the argument is over. He parted with a second round pick to give up on a two-time Pro Bowl corner after eight weeks. The timing was financially motivated, to avoid reported millions in guaranteed injury bonuses, but where was the due diligence on the front end of figuring out whether or not the guy would fit in before giving him such a contract in the first place? As no other team was interested in picking up Al’s horrible contract to get Hall, he cleared waiver and became an unrestricted FA. Nnamdi Asomugha moves from RCB to LCB, while special teamer Chris Johnson, not Stanford Routt, got the bump and is now a starter at RCB. Routt and FS Hiram Eugene also lost snaps to young journeyman Rashad Baker. The secondary got impressive performances from the new guys, despite Johnson and Baker having a combined four career starts between them in total 11 years of experience. Johnson provided good coverage even when matched up with CAR WR Steve Smith, to the point CAR QB Jake Delhomme made the rare decision of challenging Asomugha. The result was Asomugha’s first pick of the year among four Delhomme threw on Sunday. Baker grabbed two, the first two he’s had since 2005, showing great closing speed in centerfield. He should continue to cost Michael Huff, Eugene, and Routt playing time in pass packages. SS Gibril Wilson battling a groin injury also provided Baker more opportunities. SLB Sam Williams got in on the pick party. An injury-prone former failed starter previously, Williams was back in the picture with Ricky Brown missing another game with a groin and Robert Thomas going on the IR with a hamstring injury. Williams got his first career pick when a pass bounced off CAR FB Brad Hoover. In addition to losing Thomas for the season, promising fourth-round S Tyvon Branch (shoulder) also joined the IR. A valuable special teams player, he also had been worked in on defense at times during the season. The team added OLB Marquis Cooper and CB Michael Waddell to fill the roster spots.

MLB Kirk Morrison led the team with eight tackles (six solo). DE Derrick Burgess missed his fifth straight game with a strained triceps. Tackles Gerard Warren and Tommy Kelly each had a sack.

Philadelphia
The Eagles got off to a good start when DT Mike Patterson deflected a pass to himself at the line of scrimmage on the Giants’ first series and grabbed it for his first career interception. He had a 21 yard return that the offense would convert to a TD. Patterson also had a solo tackle and recovered a fumble forced by SLB Chris Gocong. DE Trent Cole got his fourth sack of the season among his six solo tackles. Cole had four sacks before Week Three was over last year. MLB Stewart Bradley led the team with a career-high 14 tackles (13 solo).

Nickel CB Lito Sheppard was active, but limited by a groin, Joselio Hanson saw most of the work in his place. DT Brodrick Bunkley briefly left the game in the third quarter, but returned to finish with a career-high seven tackles (six solo).

Pittsburgh
OLB James Harrison led the team with 12 tackles (nine solo, including one on special teams), with three for a loss and his 11th sack of the season. He is tied for second in the league in sacks. OLB LaMarr Woodley was inactive with a calf injury. He is expected to return this week. Lawrence Timmons started in his place and posted five tackles (four solo), including one for a loss. DE Aaron Smith had a sack for the second consecutive game and has four on the season.

Injury problems continue in the secondary. CB Bryant McFadden remains sidelined indefinitely with a broken arm. Deshea Townsend, starting in his place, suffered a hamstring injury in the game and was replaced by William Gay. Townsend has been ruled out this week and the team signed Fernando Bryant because depth is thin. FS Ryan Clark (dislocated shoulder) returned to the starting lineup and played most of the game despite aggravating the injury during the contest. CB Ike Taylor tipped a deep pass right to IND WR Reggie Wayne for a TD in the first quarter. He broke up another pass and had five solo tackles.

St. Louis
With the Jets dominating time of possession in the blowout, there were plenty of tackle opportunities. New starting SLB Quinton Culberson led the team with 11 tackles (eight solo), including one for a loss. SS Corey Chavous joined him at double-digit tackles with ten (eight solo). Culberson replaced Chris Draft, who broke his foot in the previous game. The team had no sacks and forced no turnovers.

DE Leonard Little returned to the starting lineup, but saw limited work as he battles a lingering hamstring. Adam Carriker (ankle) did not start, but rotated in, also seeing limited work. CB Tye Hill (torn cartilage in knee) remained inactive. The condition has regressed since he began practicing and he has a dreaded visit with Dr. James Andrews this week.

San Diego
SS Clinton Hart was the hero in an unimpressive display against the hapless Chiefs. Hart batted down the two-point try for the win at the end of the game. He wasn’t credit for a pass defense in the Gamebook for some reason. He had three tackles (two solo). FS Eric Weddle had the only sack in the game among his four solo tackles. The team forced no turnovers. CB Antonio Cromartie returned from hip problems, and while he didn’t start, his return was accelerated when CB Cletis Gordon, who started in his place, left with a sprained knee early in the game. Cromartie led the team with 11 tackles (ten solo). Gordon could miss a couple weeks. ILB Stephen Cooper had nine tackles (seven solo) and ILB Tim Dobbins had five solo, plus an assist on special teams.

San Francisco
ILB Patrick Willis led the team with 11 tackles (nine solo). He is currently second in the league in tackles. DE/OLB Justin Smith had seven tackles (six solo), as well as batted down a pass and two QB hits, but no sacks. The team had no sacks and forced no turnovers. After appearing to adjust well to the tweener role early in the season, he hasn’t had a sack since Week Five. However, he is on pace for a career high in tackles.

Seattle
A procedure last week on DE Patrick Kerney’s surgically-repaired left shoulder showed he did not tear the labrum again. Despite the good news, he is still out indefinitely after getting the shoulder cleaned. Rookie Lawrence Jackson started in his place at RDE opposite Darryl Tapp.

MLB Lofa Tatupu returned after being inactive in the previous game with a groin injury. He led the team with nine solo tackles. OLB Leroy Hill had six solo tackles, including his first sack of the season. He leads the team in tackles and is on pace to be well over his first 100 tackle season. He is filling the gap left by Tatupu, who is on track to be under 100 tackles for the first time in his career.

Tampa Bay
The team brought back S Donte Nicholson for depth on the heels of losing Jermaine Phillips. Sabby Piscitelli will remain the starter at SS, but depth was thin. There has been a question of whether or not Phillips’ arm is actually broken, as he reportedly is not wearing a cast. HC Jon Gruden was ambiguous. Expect Phillips to be out at least this week, but watch for further information on the severity.

Tennessee
OLB Keith Bulluck played through torn rib cartilage to keep his streak of consecutive games started alive at 106. Though he was beat for a TD by Forte for the first score of the game, he led the team in tackles with ten (nine solo). It was his second game of the season with double digit tackles and he is on pace to just barely eclipse 100 tackles on the season. However, he has just half a sack and no picks or forced fumbles. He is in line for another season of disappointing fantasy output for a player who was one of the elite IDP producers not long ago. The injury will not heal without rest, but reportedly cannot get worse, so Bulluck will play with it for the rest of the season and handling it will be a matter of pain tolerance. SS Chris Hope remains a ball magnet. He had his fourth pick of the season of a pass tipped by CB Cortland Finnegan. All four of Hope’s interceptions this season have been in the last three games. Hope also had five tackles (three solo). Finnegan had his first sack of the season among his four solo tackles. He provided lockdown coverage most of the game and broke up three passes in total. CB Nick Harper started, but suffered an ankle sprain in the game, giving Eric King significant work in his place. Harper’s status for this week is in question.

DE Kyle Vanden Bosch was inactive after aggravating a groin injury in the previous game. He is uncertain to play this week, as well. Jacob Ford started at RDE in his place, but left the game in the first quarter after getting flipped over on a block by CHI RB Matt Forte while leaping to try to defend a pass. Ford would return, but Dave Ball also saw significant work. Ball notched another sack, giving him 2.5 on the season, all in the last two games as he has seem more work with Vanden Bosch limited lately and proven to be a valuable reserve. Rookie reserve DT Jason Jones blocked a FG.

Washington
My suspicions that Daniel Snyder is Al Davis for a new generation received further support last week the team signed CB DeAngelo Hall. With Shawn Springs aging and battling injury, it isn’t a bad move, but Hall has the potential to upset the apple cart, especially with a rookie coach on a team that seems to have good chemistry. Leigh Torrence, who has performed well this season with a lot of injuries in the secondary, was released to make room for Hall. Springs expects to return from a calf injury this week. If he does, Hall likely begins as no more than the third or fourth corner. A natural ball hawk, Hall could also be worked in at centerfield in some pass packages, moving LaRon Landry closer to the line and knocking one of the LBs out. Hall also offers upside as a punt returner, where Antwan Randle El has provided diminishing returns (pun intended) since coming to Washington.

DE Jason Taylor has practiced and is expected to return this week, but his calf injury has already required a second procedure, so watch for updates before considering starting him.