New York Jets quarterback Bryce Petty suffered an bruised shoulder against the Eagles in the preseason finale. Plus, other injuries we're tracking Thursday.

After weeks of disappointment, Houston's defense is finally looking like the juggernaut it was supposed to be. Bucky Brooks explains how J.J. Watt and the Texans got rolling again.

Aaron Donald and Robert Quinn headline a Rams defensive front that leads Chris Wesseling's Top 10 list this week. Find out where the Bills and Dolphins rank among the NFL's best front sevens.

"Hard Knocks" is back. Its newest star? Houston Texans coach Bill O'Brien, whose fiery persona and desire to return his team to relevance is on display from the first moment of Tuesday's premiere.

Which college football program is best at producing NFL linebackers? We're taking a look back at the past 15 NFL drafts to determine which school is the real "LB U."

Dominique Easley hasn't made a huge impact for the New England Patriots since the team drafted him in the first round of this year's draft. Now his rookie season is over.

We're looking back over the past 25 years to find out which schools can lay claim to the title of "Linebacker U" and the battle for No. 1 on our list comes down to two nasty in-state rivals.

The Houston Texans traded backup quarterback T.J. Yates to the Atlanta Falcons on Wednesday for linebacker Akeem Dent. The team had planned to release Yates, but a trade market opened up.

Jonathan Vilma could soon find a new team. The former Saints linebacker worked out with the Falcons on Wednesday. Vilma could replace Sean Weatherspoon in the middle of Atlanta's defense.

Osi Umenyiora led the Atlanta Falcons with 7.5 sacks in 2013. But he's on the wrong side of 30 and set to count $4.75 million against the cap. Could the Falcons cut ties with the star defensive end?

Luke Kuechly transformed the Carolina Panthers' defense last season. Chris Wesseling explores if Kuechly is ready to overtake Patrick Willis as the NFL's top inside linebacker.

The preseason is a time to expose a team's problem, and if you're the Arizona Cardinals, you've got one at quarterback. We've found at least 31 other problems that will keep NFL coaches up at night.

After losing Lofa Tatupu to a torn pectoral muscle before training camp, the Atlanta Falcons took another injury hit when Akeem Dent suffered a head injury on Thursday night.

Playoff disappointment has become an annual affliction for the Atlanta Falcons. Why can't Matt Ryan and Co. take the next step? Albert Breer says the club has identified the missing ingredient: swagger.

Lofa Tatupu's fresh start with the Atlanta Falcons is over before it ever really got going. The three-time Pro Bowl linebacker will spend the 2012 season sidelined with a torn pectoral muscle.

The Atlanta Falcons were quick to re-sign 14-year veteran LB Mike Peterson, presumably when became clear that Lofa Tatupu wouldn't be back in time for the season.

Lofa Tatupu's comeback plans have hit a snag. The linebacker suffered a pectoral injury on Thursday in a workout. Coach Mike Smith said the extent of the injury is unknown.

With a strengthened Atlanta secondary that could result in more nickel packages, Brian McIntyre writes that LB Stephen Nicholas might not be in the Falcons' plans this season.