• DEN DE Elvis Dumervil and rookie SLB Von Miller continue to terrorize opposing QBs. Each had a solo sack and the duo shared another on Thursday night for the third straight game. Dumervil is up to 3.5 on the season, all in the last three games. Miller is fifth in the league with 9.5 sacks this year. Miller had a dominant performance, leading the team with 10 tackles (9 solo), 3 TFL, 4 QB hits, a forced fumble and a pass defensed, in addition to the 1.5 sacks.
  
  
• NYG third DE Jason Pierre-Paul had the team's only sack. He leads the team with 10.5 on the season, third in the league.
  
  
• CAR rookie back up DE Thomas Keiser had a breakout performance in his second career game. He had his first two sacks, the team's only ones in the game, and 5 solo tackles with 2 TFL. Keiser saw more snaps with DE Charles Johnson banged up during the game, which kept him sidelined, a times. Johnson was poked in the eye and took a big hit in the back, but reported on Twitter he is fine. Keiser has 7 solo tackles, 3 TFL and 2 sacks in his first two career games.
  
  
• CIN reserve DE Carlos Dunlap returned from a hamstring injury that kept him inactive in the previous game and had just 1 QB hit. The starters remain LDE Robert Geathers and RDE Frostee Rucker. DT Geno Atkins has sacks in back-to-back games and leads the team with 5.5 on the year. He is developing in to one of the more productive fantasy tackles in the league, with 2 QB hits and also posting 6 tackles (4 solo) with 2 TFL.
  
  
• The top three ends for the Rams each had a sack. STL DE Chris Long remained hot with his sixth in the last four games. He leads the team with 9 sacks on the season, a new career high. James Hall and first-round pick Robert Quinn each had their fourth sack of the season. Quinn had his best game yet with 5 solo tackles.
  
  
• JAX third DE Aaron Kampman missed his second straight game with a hamstring injury suffered over their bye week. He could be needed this week as LDE Matt Roth left the game in the fourth quarter with a head injury. No confirmation yet on if it is a concussion. If Roth and Kampman both can't go, former CFL star John Chick could get his first NFL start. NT Terrance Knighton also missed his second game with an ankle injury, giving C.J. Mosley another start next to DT Tyson Alualu.
  
  
• DET DE Kyle Vanden Bosch had the team's only sack on Sunday. He now had 6 on the season, tied with DE Cliff Avril for the team lead.
  
  
• GB DL B.J. Raji was "The Freezer" on Sunday, a nickname he gave himself (since he is smaller than William "The Refrigerator" Perry) after being inserted on offense in some goal-line packages, when he scored the Packers' first TD on Sunday as a fullback. It is the first offensive TD of Raji's career. He returned a pick for a TD last year to seal a victory over the Bears in the NFC Championship. On the defensive side of the ball, batting down a pass was his only contribution in the box score.
  
  
• MIN DE Jared Allen didn't register at least a shared sack for the first time since Week 15 last year and lost the league lead for now. He remains second in the league with 13.5 sacks so far this season. The front seven picked up the slack, with two sacks from their LBs and one each for DE Brian Robison, giving him 5.5 on the season, and DT Kevin Williams, his first this year. DT Remi Ayodele regained his starting spot next to Williams after being benched in favor of rookie Christian Ballard in the previous game.
  
  
• OAK DT Richard Seymour was limited by a knee injury that kept him out of practice last week and is on the same track this week. John Henderson replaced him the starting lineup and had 4 tackles (1 solo). Converted DT Desmond Bryant continues to be the answer at DE with Matt Shaughnessy done for the year. Bryant had a pair of sacks, giving him all three on the season in the last three games. The former UDFA out of Harvard is beginning to thrive in a full-time role on the edge after flashing some potential, in limited opportunities, as an interior pass rusher in his first 2+ seasons as a reserve DT. DT Tommy Kelly also had a pair of sacks and leads the team with 5.5 on the season.
  
  
• TB rookie DE Adrian Clayborn had his team-leading fourth sack of the season and DT Brian Price had his third of the season. DT Albert Haynesworth was shaken up in the game after a collision with third DE Da'Quan Bowers, but returned to finish the game. Haynesworth continues to start in place of Gerald McCoy, who is done for the season. In an apparent vote of confidence for Haynesworth, the team released DT Frank Okam this week. DE is battling a groin injury and Bowers could see more snaps this week. With an apparent lack of confidence in Bennett, the team replaced Okam with DE Daniel Te'o-Nesheim this week.
  
  
• ATL DE John Abraham had his first sack since Week 7, the only one for the team. With just 4 sacks this season despite missing just one game, he's been a tremendous disappointment. He can get them in bunches, though.
  
  
• MIA DE Jared Odrick had a sack for the third straight game and all four of his sacks came in the last five games. After his rookie season last year being a redshirt year when he broke his left leg in Week 1, he was off to a slow start in the production department this year before his midseason breakout as a pass rusher.
  
  
• AZ DT Dan Williams is done for the season with a broken left arm. The former first-round pick appeared to take a helmet from a teammate in the arm on a tackle in the fourth quarter.
  
  
• SEA DE Chris Clemons led the way for a big performance by the Seahawks on Sunday with a three-sack performance, forcing fumbles on two of them, as he beat up the St. Louis rookie back up with LT Roger Saffold done for the year. He leads the team with 8 sacks on the season. DE Red Bryant helped seal the victory with his first career pick on ball tipped by DT Brandon Mebane.
  
  
• TEN RDE Dave Ball remained inactive for the second straight game with a concussion. Derrick Morgan replaced him the starting lineup opposite LDE Jason Jones. The fragile Morgan twisted an ankle in the game, so watch for updates in the unfortunate event you have him to choose from. The team had no sacks. This disappointing front line is really missing Jason Babin and the disruption he caused and attention he drew.
  
  
• Speaking of PHI DE Jason Babin, he got his tenth sack of the season, forcing a fumble on it. He is fourth in the league in sacks.
  
  
• CLE DE Jayme Mitchell was replaced by Emmanuel Stephens as the starting RDE opposite rookie Jabaal Sheard. Stephens had 4 tackles (2 solo) and a QB hit. Sheard had the team's only sack, giving him 3.5 on the season.
  
  
• NE DE Andre Carter followed up his 4.5 sack performance the previous game by sharing one with DE Mark Anderson, who also logged a solo sack of his own. Carter leads the team with 9 sacks on the season, all in the last five games. Anderson has 7 sacks this season.
  
  
• KC DE Glenn Dorsey was inactive with a knee injury. Wallace Gilberry replaced him and had a strip sack, his second of the season. Rookie DE Allen Bailey picked up some work too.
  
  
• Waiver Wire Recommendations: I like converted DT Desmond Bryant, who is still eligible as a DT in most leagues, and is beginning to flash potential at RDE. Especially in dynasty leagues.

Linebacker

• BAL MLB Ray Lewis missed his first game since 2007 with a toe injury suffered in the previous game. Some reports speculate he could miss as much as four weeks, but HC John Harbaugh said there's a chance he could play this week. Baltimore has a short week with a Thanksgiving game, so consider Lewis questionable and expect the dreaded game-time decision, but I'd plan to be without him if impacts your waiver wire decisions this week. Dannell Ellerbe got the start in place of Lewis inside and rotated with Brendon Ayanbadejo. Ellerbe had 3 tackles (2 solo), while Ayanbadejo had 4 solo tackles and recovered the fumble at the Cinci two-yard line lost by rookie CB Jimmy Smith after a pick late in the third quarter. WLB Jameel McClain stepped up in the absence of Lewis and shared the team lead with 9 tackles (8 solo).
  
  
• I discussed DEN rookie SLB Von Miller and his brilliant Thursday night performance above with the defensive linemen. In other LB news, rotational MLB Wesley Woodyard returned after missing the previous game with a knee injury and had 8 tackles (6 solo, including 1 on special teams that he forced a fumble on). That limited platoon-mate Joe Mays, who had 3 solo tackles.
  
  
• In his second game back from a dislocated wrist, still playing with a cast, DAL ILB Sean Lee had his fourth double-digit tackle game, leading the team with 10 (6 solo). OLB DeMarcus Ware had a sack and took over the league lead with 14 on the season.
  
  
• IND MLB Pat Angerer had 7 tackles (3 solo) and still leads the league with 105 tackles on the season.
  
  
• SF ILB Patrick Willis couldn't make it three games in a row with double-digit tackles, as the 49ers completely dominated time of possession, but he did lead the team with 7 (6 solo), forced a fumble, and broke up 3 passes, including grabbing one for his first INT of the season. ILB NaVorro Bowman had just 3 solo tackles, broke up a pass, and recovered a fumble on a punt. He falls to third in the league with 95 tackles on the season. OLB Ahmad Brooks and first-round pick OLB3 Aldon Smith each had a sack. Brooks has 6 on the season and Smith leads the team with 7.5 for the year.
  
  
• JAX WLB Daryl Smith again led the team in tackles, posting 8 (5 solo) on Sunday. MLB Paul Posluszny got to the QB for the second straight game, getting a sack to go with 5 tackles (3 solo). He has 2.5 sacks on the season and leads the team with 77 tackles, just two ahead of Smith, who is closing on him. WLB Clint Session left the game early in the fourth quarter with his second concussion of the season. He was placed on the IR and Russell Allen should replace him. The team added veteran LB Kevin Bentley for depth.
  
  
• CLE MLB D'Qwell Jackson had 9 tackles (7 solo) and a TFL. He has 91 on the season and moved up to fifth in the league.
  
  
• STL MLB James Laurinaitis has back-to-back double-digit tackle games, his fourth of the season, leading the team with 13 solo tackles.
  
  
• GB OLB Clay Matthews has been hot lately, but he was slowed early in the first quarter when he head was jammed on a QB hit and left with a neck stinger. He returned on the next series and finished with 2 solo tackles and 2 QB hits. He says he'll be ready to go on Thursday. ILB Desmond Bishop shared the team lead with 9 tackles (7 solo) and 2 TFL. Bishop is fourth in the league with 93 tackles this season. OLB Frank Zombo remained inactive as he continues to battle a hamstring. Erik Walden continues to start in his place and got his third sack of the season.
  
  
• WAS ILB London Fletcher had his fourth double-digit tackle game, leading the team with 16 (9 solo). He also had a sack and forced a fumble. Fletcher is second in the league with 96 tackles on the season as he closes in on yet another 100-tackle season. Next to him, Perry Riley continues to start over Rocky McIntosh. Riley had 11 tackles (5 solo), including an assist on special teams. OLB Ryan Kerrigan had another sack, giving him four in the last three games, and now leads the team with 6 on the season.
  
  
• TB WLB Geno Hayes was back starting at WLB after being demoted the last two weeks. He had just 2 tackles (1 solo). Quincy Black returned to SLB and Adam Hayward was returned to primarily a special teams role with Hayes back. Black shared the team lead with 8 tackles (7 solo) and had 2 TFL.
  
  
• CAR MLB Dan Connor was inactive with a shoulder injury after being questionable to play. Jordan Senn got his first career start in his place and had 6 tackles (3 solo), as well as forced a fumble. SLB James Anderson led the team with 10 tackles (7 solo) and grabbed his first pick of the season. With a team-high 87 tackles on the season, he'll be well in to triple digits for the second straight season.
  
  
• NYJ reserve OLB Garrett McIntyre, former UDFA who spent the last few seasons between the Arena Football League and CFL, got his first career start as the latest player trying to fill the gap opposite OLB Calvin Pace after the loss of OLB Bryan Thomas for the season. The stout McIntyre got the role to help set the edge against mobile DEN QB Tim Tebow on Thursday night, but should be back to primarily a special teams role and has little fantasy upside. He posted 3 tackles (2 solo) and nearly had a sack in the third quarter before Tebow eluded him. Pace had the only sack of the night for the Jets. He leads the team with 4 sacks on the season.
  
  
• With a healthy lead in time of possession, limited tackle opportunities for ATL MLB Curtis Lofton and WLB Sean Weatherspoon. Lofton had 6 (3 solo) and broke up a pass, but fell out of the top five in the league in tackles. Weatherspoon had just three solo tackles. Both have otherwise been tackle machines this year, with five double-digit tackle games.
  
  
• TEN MLB Barrett Ruud aggravated a groin injury in the second quarter and didn't return. Rookie Colin McCarthy took over and led the team with 10 solo tackles, 3 TFL and forced a fumble. For the second straight game, McCarthy has impressed replacing a banged up Ruud. As discussed in this column last week, McCarthy was pegged with potential to start as rookie before the team signed Ruud right before the preseason. The team has Ruud on only a one-year deal, so there is no financial considerations or otherwise to stand in the way of McCarthy taking the job over sooner than later.
  
  
• CIN SLB Manny Lawson continues to be the most productive Bengal LB as MLB Rey Maualuga doesn't look at full speed yet in his second game back from a lateral ankle sprain and the output of WLB Thomas Howard has fallen off. Lawson had 6 tackles (5 solo) and a TFL. He has more than half his tackles on the season (16) in the last two games and shared his first sack of the season in the previous game.
  
  
• DET WLB DeAndre Levy led the team with 9 tackles (5 solo), including an assist on special teams, and grabbed his first pick of the season. He leads the team with 78 tackles on the season. MLB Stephen Tulloch had 6 tackles (5 solo) and broke up 2 passes, grabbing one for his second pick of the season and deflecting another for a pick by SS Chris Harris. While Tulloch isn't putting up the tackle numbers his fantasy owners desire, he's supplementing his numbers elsewhere with more big plays in the passing game than expected - career bests of 2 picks and 3 sacks so far this year.
  
  
• MIN SLB Chad Greenway led the team in tackles with 15 tackles (7 solo), his third double-digit tackles game of the season - all in the last four games. He also had his first sack of the season. There were plenty of tackles to go around as Oakland dominated the time of possession. MLB E.J. Henderson saw more work in pass packages with his brother, Erin, inactive with a hamstring injury. E.J. had 9 tackles (7 solo) and his second sack of the season. Kenny Onatolu played WLB in the base package in place of Erin Henderson and had 1 solo tackle.
  
  
• BUF ILBs Nick Barnett and rookie Kelvin Sheppard each had 7 tackles (6 solo). Barnett had his second sack of the season, as well. OLB Chris Kelsay returned after missing the four of the previous five games with a nagging calf strain. He bumped Danny Batten back to the bench.
  
  
• After three consecutive double-digit tackles games, MIA ILB Karlos Dansby had just 4 solo tackles on Sunday, as the Dolphins got out to a big lead early and the Bills took to the air, leaving few tackle opportunities up front with just 19 runs. Of his recent production, Dansby has admitted he started the season overweight after the lockout and is just now back in game shape. A little too late to help his team make the playoffs and save HC Tony Sparano's job, but just in time to help ruin their chances at the first overall pick to get Stanford QB Andrew Luck. Pass rush specialist OLB Jason Taylor got his fourth sack of the season. OLB Cameron Wake is struggling to get to the QB. He has just half a sack in the last four games and wasn't in as a pass rusher in every nickel package.
  
  
• SD OLB Shaun Phillips was inactive for the fourth straight game with a foot injury, giving Antwan Barnes another start opposite Travis LaBoy. ILB Takeo Spikes played despite suffering a concussion in the previous game. He had 3 solo tackles.
  
  
• NYG rookie UDFA LB Mark Herzlich got his first career start at MLB on Sunday, as Greg Jones was benched. He had 4 tackles (2 solo) in a similar two-down role. The team was missing WLB Michael Boley, inactive with a hamstring injury suffered in the previous game. Spencer Paysinger replaced him with rookie Jacquian Williams seeing snaps at both positions. SLB Mathias Kiwanuka led the team in tackles with 7 (6 solo).
  
  
• PHI MLB Jamar Chaney is stacking up solid performance. He led the team with 6 tackles (4 solo) and broke up 2 passes, grabbing one for an INT. He had 12 tackles (10 solo), 3 passes defensed, a pick and a sack in the last two games.
  
  
• NO MLB Jonathan Vilma underwent surgery on his problematic left knee over the bye and is questionable this week. HC Sean Payton said treatment is going "well" and they'll have a better idea on Thursday of his status this week. JoLonn Dunbar should get another start in the middle if he can't go this week.
  
  
• NE LB Jerod Mayo finally put up his second double-digit tackle game of the season, his first since Week 2. The 2010 tackle leader had seven by this point last year. He has been dinged up a bit, but the changes to the defensive schemes haven't helped his production either. Mayo led the team with 11 tackles (7 solo).
  
  
• KC OLB Tamba Hali got his seventh sack of the season. ILB Derrick Johnson led the team with 12 tackles (7 solo) and broke up a pass. He has three double-digit tackle games in the last five and leads the team with 83 on the season.
  
  
• Waiver Wire Recommendations: TEN rookie LB Colin McCarthy became even more appealing this week for redraft leagues after another Barrett Ruud injury and another strong performance. WAS ILB Perry Riley looks locked in now in a nice situation. I remain extremely pessimistic about NO MLB Jonathan Vilma's knee, so JoLonn Dunbar in tackle-heavy leagues and Jonathan Casillas in big-play leagues are appealing to me again this week.

Defensive Back

• BAL SS Bernard Pollard remains locked in as a starter and continues to produce. He shared the team lead with 9 tackles (7 solo), with a TFL. He also stopped a scramble with his second sack of the season and broke up a pass. Fully healed from a high ankle sprain that cost him much of the beginning of the season, rookie CB Jimmy Smith has taken on a significant role, passing CB Chris Carr for the nickel role. Smith had his first career pick late in the third quarter in Cincinnati territory and although he lost control, LB Brendon Ayanbadejo recovered it at the two-yard line to set up a TD. CB Lardarius Webb had his third pick of the season on the subsequent drive by the Bengals, setting up the TD that would be the difference in the game. Webb overcame an early mistake when muffed the catch on the first punt of the game, benefitting his fantasy owners with a fumble recovery. FS Ed Reed had a pick in the end zone for his third of the season.
  
  
• Finally healthy this season (and out of trouble, for now) CIN CB Adam Jones got the start opposite Nate Clements as the replacement for Leon Hall, who is done for the season with a torn left Achilles' tendon. Pacman was tested and led the team with 7 solo tackles. He had a hard time on BAL rookie WR Torrey Smith when the two were matched up, but had one of the highlights of the week with a potential TD-saving tackles when Smith's dreadlocks were the only thing Jones could touch on him, and he dragged him down by them. WR Brandon Tate remained the primary punt returner, likely since Jones missed a couple games with a hamstring suffered on a punt return fresh off the PUP. So his fantasy value won't get a bump in leagues that count return stats. Clements had his first pick of the season in the game.
  
  
• WAS SS LaRon Landry was inactive, bothered by his problematic left Achilles' tendon. As I mentioned in last week's column, this issue has been ongoing and with little for the Redskins to play for but pride, it makes little sense for Landry to push it any given week. Instead of veteran Reed Doughty, who has been take turns starting for the fragile duo of Landry and FS Oshiomogho Atogwe, the team gave rookie DeJon Gomes his first career start in place of Landry at SS. Gomes responded with 14 tackles (6 solo), including an assist on special teams. Atogwe was back after being inactive of DNP the last three games with a knee injury. He had 7 tackles (1 solo) and broke up a pass. CB Josh Wilson left in the fourth quarter with a hamstring injury and was replaced by Byron Westbrook. On the other side, DeAngelo Hall had 11 tackles (8 solo).
  
  
• CLE SS T.J. Ward remained inactive with a right foot sprain that is expected to keep him out at least another three weeks. Usama Young remained his replacement and led the team with 10 tackles (6 solo). Nickel CB Dimitri Patterson returned after missing two games with a knee sprain.
  
  
• DET SS Amari Spievey was benched in the second quarter after missing some tackles on a TD drive. Veteran Chris Harris, claimed off waivers three weeks ago after being released by the Bears, took over the rest of the game and had a key interception late in the game that helped seal the victory. Expect Spievey to be back in there on Thursday. Nickel CB Aaron Berry was an unexpected inactive with a sickness on Sunday. He's expected to play on Thursday. CB Eric Wright had this third pick of the season.
  
  
• OAK FS Michael Huff returned after missing the previous game with a right ankle sprain. He covered the slot in the nickel, with all their health problems at corner, keeping a significant role for back up Matt Giordano, who had a pick for the second straight game and leads the team with three on the season. The team was without CB Chris Johnson, missing another game with a groin/hamstring, and lost fourth-round pick CB Chimdi Chekwa to the IR, being able to overcome his own hamstring problem. The team signed CB Bryan McCann, a better returner than corner, to fill Chekwa's roster spot. Third-round pick CB DeMarcus Van Dyke returned from his hamstring problem, but the team stuck with veteran Lito Sheppard starting opposite Stanford Routt. Sheppard had 6 solo tackles, a sack and broke up a pass. SS Tyvon Branch led the team with 7 tackles (6 solo, including 1 on special teams).
  
  
• For the third straight season, CB Terrence McGee is done for the season early with a significant injury. He suffered a ruptured patella tendon in his left knee in the second quarter and has already had surgery on it. Rookie CB Aaron Williams replaced him and is expected to start opposite Drayton Florence this week, as former first round pick Leodis McKelvin has fallen off the radar. SS George Wilson was inactive with a neck stinger suffered in the previous game. Rookie Da'Norris Searcy replaced him and didn't miss a beat with Wilsonesque production. Searcy led the team 11 tackles (9 solo).
  
  
• DAL CB Mike Jenkins remained inactive for the third straight game with a right hamstring injury. Orlando Scandrick continued to replace him and grabbed his first pick of the season. FS Gerald Sensabaugh had a nice game with 9 tackles (7 solo) and a forced fumble he recovered. However, he suffered an undisclosed right foot injury. S Barry Church picked up some additional snaps and could get the start on Thursday if Sensabaugh can't go.
  
  
• DEN fourth-round pick FS Quinton Carter continues to start ahead of second-round pick Rahim Moore.
  
  
• GB CB Tramon Williams shared the team lead in tackles with 9 (7 solo) and grabbed a pair of picks to give him four on the season. An ageless CB Charles Woodson continues to fill up the box score. He had his second sack of the season and remains in a tie for second in the league lead with 5 picks this season.
  
  
• ATL SS William Moore was inactive for the second straight game with a thigh injury. Veteran James Sanders replaced him in the starting lineup again and posted 4 tackles (3 solo). Nickel CB Kelvin Hayden left with a right foot injury in the second quarter. Chris Owens replaced him and led the team with 7 tackles (5 solo). CB Dunta Robinson had his first pick of the season.
  
  
• SF FS Dashon Goldson was ejected in the fourth quarter for throwing punches at AZ WR Early Doucet. He reportedly will not be suspended further, so will play this week. Goldson had his third pick of the season before getting tossed. SS Donte Whitner had his second in the game.
  
  
• CHI CB Charles Tillman had a tough afternoon on SD WR Vincent Jackson after a superb performance on DET WR Calvin Johnson the previous week. Regardless, Tillman came up with his specialty, a perfectly-timed punch to force a fumble on SD RB Ryan Matthews in the third quarter that Tillman recovered and set up a TD to give them a two-score lead late in the game after a TD on the subsequent drive. Tillman also led the team with 7 tackles (6 solo). SS Major Wright had an INT in the end zone, his third of the season and giving him picks in back-to-back games. Nickel CB D.J. Moore was inactive with an ankle sprain. Special teams ace CB Corey Graham replaced him and his second pick of the season. He also downed a punt inside the five-yard line. No fantasy points for that, but part of the brilliant special teams play he adds.
  
  
• As expected, MIN CB Asher Allen took over the starting role for Antoine Winfield, done for the season with a broken shoulder, opposite CB Cedric Griffin. The team signed Benny Sapp, who is familiar with HC Leslie Frazier's defense from his last stint in town, to fill Winfield's roster spot and Sapp immediately stepped in to the nickel role, stepping former UDFA Marcus Sherels and rookie CB Brandon Burton, who was active for the first time this season.
  
  
• TEN SS Chris Hope will remain in a rotation with Jordan Babineaux, with the latter remaining the starter. Babineaux is getting more snaps and producing more, but the situation is fantasy unfriendly.
  
  
• TB FS Tanard Jackson was inactive with a lingering hamstring injury. Corey Lynch replaced him. SS Sean Jones shared the team lead with 8 tackles (7 solo).
  
  
• JAX CB William Middelton replaced CB Rashean Mathis, who is done for the year with a torn left ACL, opposite Derek Cox and Drew Coleman remained the nickel. SS Dawan Landry had his second INT of the season.
  
  
• SEA SS Kam Chancellor was in the lineup after suffering a concussion in the previous game. He had 4 solo tackles.
  
  
• STL CB Justin King played through a bad ankle, but dinged up his knee too, and was limited in the game. Nickel CB Marquis Johnson couldn't take advantage as he suffered an ab injury in the game. He becomes the latest STL DB on the IR. As expected, former UDFA Josh Gordy was the new starter in place of CB Al Harris, whose season, and likely career, ended in the previous game with torn ACL.
  
  
• SD SS Steve Gregory returned after missing the previous game with a thigh injury. He had 3 tackles (2 solo). CB Antoine Cason grabbed his first pick of the season and returned it 64 yards.
  
  
• HOU FS Danieal Manning returned to practice this week for the first time since breaking his left leg. He remains questionable this week.
  
  
• A well-underthrown pass gave NYG CB Prince Amukamara his first career pick less than 10 minutes in to his first career game. The rookie was already used as the third CB and also had 5 tackles and broke up another pass. His return was crucial, as the Giants lost yet another corner when Michael Coe was lost in the game and went on the IR with a shoulder injury.
  
  
• PHI FS Nate Allen returned from a concussion and was back in the starting lineup, bumping rookie Jaiquawn Jarrett back to a reserve role. The team released S Jarrad Page. CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie was inactive, as expected, with a high ankle sprain. CB Joselio Hanson, who might be a better fit for the slot role with his quickness as opposed to DRC's long speed, replaced him in the nickel role.
  
  
• NE CB Devin McCourty was inactive with a right shoulder injury, reportedly a separation, and remains questionable this week. Antwaun Molden replaced him and had 7 tackles (6 solo, including 2 on special teams) and broke up a pass. They were also without S Patrick Chung for the second straight game with a foot injury. Sterling Moore replaced him again and had 2 solo tackles. James Ihedigbo remained the starter at safety and was dinged up, leaving the game in the first quarter with a shoulder injury, but returned and finished the game. S Ross Ventrone was signed again and was the primary back up over Sergio Brown, whose fallen out of favor after seeing some starting work early in the season. McCourty seems unlikely to play this week, while Chung should be the dreaded game-time decision. CB Kyle Arrington is the only player of value in the secondary right now, and he grabbed two more picks to separate from the pack to lead the league with 7 interceptions on the season. Arrington was also dinged up in the game and left briefly with an injured right arm, but looked fine on both picks after returning to the game.
  
  
• KC SS Jon McGraw missed another game with a lingering shoulder problem despite returning in the previous game after missing one before with it. Donald Washington started in his place and had 8 tackles (7 solo).
  
  
• Waiver Wire Recommendations: As I mentioned here last week, CIN CB Pacman Jones has a big role with Leon Hall done for the season. He is no longer a gamble now that he's got the starting job. He's appealing in big play leagues. I also like CHI SS Major Wright, who is showing a knack for the ball in a playmaking defense that has some appealing match ups coming up for a team that will be spending more time on that side of the ball with the loss of QB Jay Cutler.