Around The League's Gregg Rosenthal ranks this year's free-agent linebacker crop, from the Baltimore Ravens' Dannell Ellerbe to the Chicago Bears' Brian Urlacher.

Monday night's game between the New England Patriots and Houston Texans was prepackaged and sold as a playoff preview -- but one of these teams still has plenty of work to do.

The New England Patriots don't mind stating the obvious by announcing tight end Rob Gronkowski is out for Sunday's game. As for the rest of their players, the Patriots are staying pretty quiet.

Antonio Smith is a realist. The Houston Texans defensive end can't help but admit injuries have taken a toll on a defense that arguably was the NFL's finest earlier this season.

Gregg Rosenthal rounds up the key injuries heading into Week 13, including the Chicago Bears, who will face the Seattle Seahawks with a penetrable offensive line ravaged by injures.

Discipline levied on Baltimore Ravens star Ed Reed struck a nerve with defensive players around the NFL. Albert Breer reports that many defenders feel like second-class citizens in a first-class league.

The Houston Texans managed to pull off an overtime win over the Detroit Lions and move to 10-1, but they're far from a complete team.

Houston Texans linebacker Bradie James said he's thankful this season that he's no longer a member of the Dallas Cowboys. It all comes back to ownership that focuses on football.

The Dallas Cowboys got rid of veteran linebackers Bradie James and Keith Brooking over the offseason, giving a larger role to Bruce Carter. So far, so good, Jerry Jones says.

Houston Texans J.J. Watt believes their defense is "going to be just fine," without DeMeco Ryan. In fact, he believes they will better their No.2 defense from last season and be No. 1.

Brian Cushing hasn't missed a regular-season game due to injury in his three-year NFL career, but the Texans are exercising caution with their star linebacker's sore knee.

DeMeco Ryans is no longer around to call the plays on defense for the Texans. Enter Bradie James, who has been given the reins as the team's field general.

Bradie James sat on the free-agent pile for a month before the Houston Texans signed him to fill the hole left by traded Pro Bowl linebacker DeMeco Ryans.

Houston Texans linebackers coach Reggie Herring isn't worried at all about the loss of DeMeco Ryans in a trade this offseason. In fact, he thinks they've got someone even better lined up to take his place in Bradie James.

Entering the season with high expectations, the Cowboys' defense was pedestrian at best in 2011. Coordinator Rob Ryan points the finger at himself, but was he to blame? Ian Rapoport examines.

With a healthy Matt Schaub, Houston is expected to be a major player in the AFC title race. But there are still some holes on the roster. Elliot Harrison addresses concerns for each AFC South team.

The Cowboys have never lacked for confidence. That trademark swagger was evident in the team's approach to the draft, and reveals how good Dallas expects to be in 2012, Ian Rapoport writes.

Texans reunite without some familiar faces