Five surprises enable LSU to take an early lead: Ron Higgins' Half Wit

COLLEGE STATION - Normally, if a team has 286 yards of total offense in a first half and just 17 points on the scoreboard, there would be anger.

For LSU, which went eight straight quarters and an overtime without a touchdown, 17 points in the final 4:33 of the first half for a 17-7 lead over Texas A&M was like a tidal wave of offense.

The Tigers never ever make it easy on themselves.

There were the usual wasted timeouts to head off delay-of-game penalties caused by coaching indecisions. There was an ill-timed unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on La'el Collins that killed a drive that had just reached inside the A&M 30.

There was placekicker Colby Delahoussaye getting benched after missing a chip shot field goal for the second straight game.

And yes, there was quarterback Anthony Jennings again spraying his passes all over the place. He made up for an early interception that led to A&M's only touchdown by completing a scrambling 10-yard TD to John Diarse for a 14-7 lead with 34 seconds left.

Among the first half surprises for the Tigers were:

Jennings: He made great decisions in the read option, keeping the ball for 94 yards on seven carries as LSU ran for 223 yards on 28 carries in the first half.

Leonard Fournette: The true freshman running back changed game momentum on a 22-yard run in which he flattened Texas A&M senior safety Howard Matthews. That was 6-foot-1, 230 pounds, steamrolling 6-2, 210 pounds.

Diarse: The freshman redshirt wide receiver hadn't had more than two receptions in a game this season, yet he had three catches for 29 yards and that TD in the opening two quarters vs. the Aggies.

Travin Dural: Normally the Tigers' leading pass catcher, the sophomore wide receiver was used several times on jet sweeps, picking up 33 yards.

Jamal Adams: The true freshman safety not only downed a punt at the A&M 2 to flip field position with 8:32 left in the second quarter, he made a great open field tackle to hold A&M receiver Ricky Seals-Jones to a 1-yard gain on 3rd and 2 at the A&M 10. A&M punted and LSU drove 50 yards for the game-tying score

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Seahawks' pass catchers limited by light workload in Week 13

Seahawks tight end Tony Moeaki led his offense with 63 receiving yards on just one reception in his team's 19-3 win over the 49ers in Week 13.

Moeaki caught a pass of about 12 yards near the sideline early in the second quarter and ran past his defender to bring the ball all the way down to the one-yard line before being caught. The Seahawks weren't able to punch the ball into the end zone on the drive, but a dominant performance by the defense meant the points left on the board wouldn't come back to haunt the offense.

The rest of the receiving corps didn't have much of a workload in the win Thursday, with quarterback Russell Wilson completing just 15 passes on 22 attempts. Tight end Luke Willson led the Seahawks with four receptions and six targets, gaining just 39 yards in the game. Wide receiver Jermaine Kearse managed three receptions for 34 yards, while wide receiver Doug Baldwin could only haul in two passes for 28 yards. Rookie Paul Richardsonwas able to catch his only target for six yards.

The Seahawks have a trip to Philadelphia on the schedule in Week 14

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Cowboys-Eagles: 10 things to know from Philadelphia's 33-10 win

Sanchez threw for 217 yards and totaled two touchdowns as the Eagles embarrassed the Cowboys 33-10 in Dallas. It was the Cowboys worst Thanksgiving Day loss since 1989 when they lost 27-0.

If the Eagles win proved one thing, it's that Sanchez is good enough to take this team to the playoffs. Eagles coach Chip Kelly made a star out of Nick Foles last season and it looks like he's going to do the same thing with Sanchez this season.

The former Jets quarterback made a statement on Philly's first two offensive drives and that statement was 'We're going to crush you.'

On the Eagles opening series, Sanchez went 4 of 5 for 30 yards before capping the drive with a one-yard touchdown run.

Sanchez looked even better on the Eagles second offensive series, going 5 of 6 for 69 yards and a touchdown. Thanks to Sanchez going a combined 9 of 11 for 99 yards on those first two drives, the Eagles jumped out to a 14-0 lead.

It was still the first quarter after those two touchdowns, but it really felt like the game was over.

After beating the Panthers and Texans in Sanchez's first two starts, it wasn't clear if the Eagles could beat a good team with Sanchez under center, especially after Philly got blown out 53-20 in Green Bay.

However, Sanchez proved on Thursday that the Eagles can beat a good team with him and they can do it on the road.

By crushing the Cowboys, Sanchez might just have cemented his status as the Eagles starting quarterback for the rest of the year, no matter how healthy Foles is at the end of the season.

Anyway, here are nine more things you need to know from Philly's win.

The Eagles are undefeated on Thanksgiving

The last team you want to play on Thanksgiving Day is Philadelphia. Thanks to the 33-10 win over the Cowboys, Philly is now 6-0 all-time on Thanksgiving Day. Those six wins include three shutouts and two wins over the Cowboys. As a matter of fact, the Cowboys' two worse Turkey Day losses ever came against the Eagles: a 27-0 loss in 1989 and this year's 23-point loss.

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Lakers run out of momentum in 99-93 loss to Grizzlies

For the second time this season, the Lakers competed through a tight game against the Grizzlies -- falling at Staples Center by six points.

Earlier this month, the Lakers gave one of the NBA's best teams a scare, only to lose by five points.

On Wednesday night, Marc Gasol led the Grizzlies' charge, notching a double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Mike Conley also scored 19 with seven assists.

The Lakers' early lead was built up without much scoring from Kobe Bryant, led by a strong first half from Jeremy Lin.

After 13 in the first, Lin scored just one point in the second half, finishing with 14 points and five assists. Bryant scored 22 after just eight in the first two quarters, but the Lakers' All-Star wasn't able to hit crucial shots late in the game.

The Lakers hit 40.7% from the field as a team and 42.1% from three-point range (8-19).  The Grizzlies converted 45.0% and 22.7% (5 of 22), respectively. Memphis had two more turnovers (14-12) and took one additional free-throw attempt (25-24).

Nick Young added 14 off the bench. Ronnie Price had a strong game with 11 points and five assists in just 17 minutes. Jordan Hill scored 11 but missed seven of 12 shots.

Ed Davis made an impact defensively with eight rebounds and three blocks. Carlos Boozer returned from missing a game with a strained shoulder, and scored four points in 21 minutes.

Memphis dominated the third, outscoring the Lakers, 34-23. Zach Randolph contributed 16 points for the Grizzlies.

The Lakers (3-12) play host to the Minnesota Timberwolves (3-10) on Friday. The Grizzlies (13-2) visit the Portland Trail Blazers (12-3), also on Friday.

Grizzlies 80, Lakers 74 (end of the third quarter)

The Grizzlies, who come into Staples Center with the best record in the Western Conference, looked like the best team in the Western Conference in the third quarter when they outscored the Lakers, 34-23.

The Lakers' lead, which had been as high as nine, was gone by the end of three periods -- instead, Memphis led by six.

Kobe Bryant led all scorers with 18 points. The Lakers shot 44.3% from the field and 63.6% from three-point range (7-11).

The Grizzlies' charge was spurred on by Marc Gasol, who had 15 points. Zach Randolph scored 16, Mike Conley 15 and Courtney Lee 10. Memphis shot 47.6% from the field and just 28.6% from behind the arc (28.6%).

Lakers 51, Grizzlies 46 (halftime)

Kobe Bryant didn't attempt a shot in the first half until there were only 3 1/2 minutes left in the second quarter, and yet the Lakers to that point held a three-point lead over the first-place Memphis Grizzlies.

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Bryant got on the board 30 seconds later with a pair of free throws, followed shortly after by his first field goal, a layup with 2:39 on the clock.  He finished the half with eight points on one-for-four shooting.

Jeremy Lin leads the Lakers with 13 points and four assists. Ronnie Price has five points and four assists off the bench. Reserve center Robert Sacre has six points.

The Grizzlies shot 40% from the field as a team, getting 11 points from Mike Conley. Zach Randolph contributed 10 points while Kosta Koufos has added six off the bench.

The Lakers shot 44.2% from the field, leading by as many as nine points.

Lakers 26, Grizzlies 21 (end of the first quarter)

Jeremy Lin scored eight points in nine minutes to help the Lakers open an early lead over the Grizzlies.  Lin also dished three assists and hit two three-pointers.

Kobe Bryant didn't attempt a shot in 10 minutes, yet the Lakers shot 50% from the field as a team.  Jordan Hill added six points and Nick Young had five off the bench.

Mike Conley leads Memphis with seven points.  Zach Randolph scored five for the Grizzlies, who shot only 31.8% from the field.

Carlos Boozer returned from missing a game with a shoulder strain but played just three minutes before picking up his second personal foul.  Ed Davis subbed in, sparking a Lakers run with two blocked shots on one Memphis possession.

Pregame

The Lakers (3-11) draw one of the top teams in the NBA on Wednesday, hosting the Memphis Grizzlies (12-2).

After winning two in a row, the Lakers have dropped a pair.

Carlos Boozer (strained left shoulder) and Ed Davis (right ankle sprain) are expected to play.  The Lakers will be without Xavier Henry (Achilles), Ryan Kelly (hamstring), Steve Nash (back) and Julius Randle (leg).

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Phillip Hughes: Statement from Cricket Australia CEO

"The word tragedy gets used too often in sport, but this freak accident is now real life tragedy.

"Just shy of his 26th birthday, Phillip has been taken away from us too soon. It is an understatement to say that we are completely devastated.

"Our grief runs deep and the impact of Phillip's loss is enormous, but nothing compares to the loss of those close to him. Phillip was a cherished son, brother, friend and team-mate.

"In these darkest hours cricket puts its collective arms around the Hughes family. To his parents Virginia and Greg and his siblings Megan and Jason, we offer our love and endless support.

"He was a member of the Australia, South Australia and Adelaide Striker squads. He also played county cricket in England and in the IPL in India.

Without doubt, he was a rising star whose best cricket was still ahead of him.

"Hughesy was much loved, you only have to sift through the thousands of wishes of support from cricketers and supporters all over the world to understand the affection felt towards him.

"He will be remembered as one of the elite few to win a baggy green cap, cap number 408 to be precise.

"He was a hero to kids around the nation, particularly to those in his hometown of Macksville in New South Wales.

"He did them proud in his 26 Test matches, a tally that looked certain to grow, but now sadly never will. The national selectors had identified him as having a long-term future in the game.

"It was only a few days ago when selecting the Test team for the forthcoming series with India, our chief selector Rod Marsh said: 'He's a hell of a good batsman, he's a very good young player who has got 26 first-class 100s'.

"We all vividly remember his explosive entrance to Test cricket. In 2009, in only his second test, aged 20, Phillip blasted back-to-back centuries against South Africa.

"Only last year, he showed his class again when he became the first Australian batsman in the history of one-day cricket to score a century on his debut. [112 v Sri Lanka January 2013]

"But it is Phillip as a person who we will miss most.

"He was a classic example of his country upbringing - humble, understated and hard working.

"When the chips were down or he had a setback, he simply got on with the job and worked harder. He set a wonderful example to any young person seeking to make their way in life.

"I'd like to send our deepest sympathies to Phillip's team-mates at national, state and grade level as well as the wider New South Wales and South Australia cricket communities.

"I'd like to pay tribute to Phillip's team-mates and opponents and the Cricket Australia medical staff for the care they have shown him.

"Our hearts go out to the Hughes family right now.

"Phillip Joel Hughes played 26 Test matches for his country.

"He'll be sadly missed and forever remembered."

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Lions' opponent: Bears want to shake 1st-quarter blues

The Chicago Bears have not been able to get their offense rolling in normal weeks. Now they will try something entirely different.

With only a few days to prepare for today's game at Ford Field, the Bears were trying to find a way to score in a first quarter and start faster than they have in their last six games.

"It's a challenge, but it's something that's universal throughout the league — everybody's playing Thursday night games," coach Marc Trestman said this week.

"We've all had experience in putting game plans together and knowing how much information the guys can handle going into a game without practice time."

Trestman said the thinking behind the game plan will have to be to "... at least keep thinking at a minimum and go out there and play. Everything we're doing today is designed to put a plan in tomorrow that they can handle and function in, get on a plane the next day and go play a game."

The offense has been anything but game-ready much of the season with normal preparation time. On Sunday, the Bears gained 68 yards and three first downs during the first half. They trailed 10-0 before the defense triggered a comeback to beat Tampa Bay and former Bears coach Lovie Smith, 21-13.

"I think it's been disturbing that we haven't been able to move the ball the way we would like to in games; that's a fact," Trestman said.

The Bears have trailed 10-0 or worse in each of the last five games before the offense scored.

"It's hard to get into a rhythm playing like that," quarterback Jay Cutler said after Sunday's win. "It's happened a few times to us. It's unacceptable."

Cutler said Trestman challenged offensive players at halftime Sunday and it could have been a factor in better production.

"Verbally, we questioned guys, made sure everyone was in this for the right reasons, made sure when we left that locker room everyone's mind was right on what we wanted to accomplish," Cutler said.

Tackle Jermon Bushrod called it a situation requiring more than one or two players to step forward and correct.

"We all took our turns messing up, and we had to find a way to come together and that's what we did," he said.

Cutler rarely threw down the field on Sunday and finished with 130 yards.

"We didn't go up the field as much as we would have liked to," Trestman said, blaming penalties for some of the pullback.

Before the win over Tampa Bay, coaches had talked about moving Cutler around in the pocket more, as they had done against Minnesota. It never happened.

"We were so out of sequence in the first half, we didn't get as much opportunity to do that," Trestman said. "We did it a couple times."

Tight end Martellus Bennett caught two passes when Cutler rolled out of the pocket, but the Bears' offense struggled along and had only one long scoring drive: 58 yards for a touchdown to start the second half. The other two TD drives were 13 and 15 yards after Tampa Bay turnovers.

"In the second half we were fortunate we had the short fields because of turnovers and the one drive," Trestman said. "Pretty good field position (Sunday)."

Offensive players know they have to improve because their defense will be challenged more today — and not simply because of Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson, Golden Tate and the Lions' offense.

"We're just trying to focus on what we can do better and that is to be more consistent on offense and to use opportunities to make plays," Trestman said. "We need to do that from start to finish. We haven't done that the last couple weeks.

"We've finished, but we haven't started the way we'd like."

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Chelsea qualified for the Champions League knockout phase with a group match to spare as they ruthlessly swept aside Roberto Di Matteo's Schalke.

The Blues, knowing a win would put them in the last 16, led through John Terry's header after 86 seconds.

A slick move ended with Willian driving in the second, before Schalke defender Jan Kirchhoff headed into his own net as Chelsea led 3-0 at half-time.

Didier Drogba tapped in before setting up Ramires to head in the fifth.

Chelsea substitutes Drogba and Ramires netted in the last 15 minutes to cap a flawless performance that merited the emphatic scoreline for the visitors in Gelsenkirchen.

The Blues' superiority in the Premier League, where they are unbeaten in 12 matches and lead by six points, has led some to ask whether they can go through the entire top-flight season without losing.

On this evidence, as the Blues starved Schalke of possession and then regularly sliced them apart in attack, Jose Mourinho's men could also be a difficult team to beat for Europe's elite.

Mourinho is Chelsea's most successful manager after winning six trophies in his first spell at Stamford Bridge between 2004 and 2007, but was unable to land the one prize craved by Blues owner Roman Abramovich - the Champions League.

Instead, it was Di Matteo who lifted the biggest prize in European club football when he masterminded Chelsea's victory in the 2012 tournament.

But if Chelsea continue to produce this quality of performance when the knockout stage resumes in the new year, then Mourinho will believe he can join the Italian in turning the west London side into European champions.

German side Schalke produced an abject performance riddled with defensive errors. But their mistakes were brutally exploited by Chelsea's desire, sharpness and invention.

Before kick-off, Mourinho stressed the importance of sealing their last-16 place with a win - and rendering the final group match against Sporting Lisbon meaningless.

Teams already through to the last 16
Real Madrid	Barcelona
Borussia Dortmund	Chelsea
Bayern Munich	Porto
Paris St-Germain	Shakhtar Donetsk

The Blues boss demanded a fast start from his players and allowed himself a wry smile when they achieved exactly that through Terry's header.

After Diego Costa's low shot forced a corner inside the opening minute, ex-England skipper Terry out-jumped two Schalke defenders to power Cesc Fabregas's set-piece into the top corner.

Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois barely had a save to make on a quiet night - although the Belgian did almost concede a fortuitous equaliser after 13 minutes. Cameroon forward Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting's deflected shot looped over Courtois, who was grateful to see the ball cannon off his crossbar.

That was a rare Schalke threat as the Blues dominated possession, out-thinking and outmuscling their German opponents.

The intelligence and positioning of Serbia midfielder Nemanja Matic broke down any Schalke moves, allowing his more attack-minded team-mates - Fabregas and Willian particularly - to stretch the home defence.

And, inevitably, Fabregas and Willian - along with Eden Hazard - created the slick move that allowed the Brazilian to drill under the body of Schalke keeper Ralf Fahrmann.

Chelsea all but secured victory before the break when home defender Kirchhoff, surrounded by team-mates and under little pressure from visiting players, headed into his own goal.

But the away side refused to ease off in the second half as Drogba and Ramires made it a night to forget for former boss Di Matteo.

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Highlights: Steph Curry's 40 points lead Golden State Warriors past Miami Heat, 114-97

The Golden State Warriors erased a 16-point deficit in the first half to top the Miami Heat 114-97 Tuesday night.

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Steph Curry led all scorers with 40 points, shooting a sizzling 8-of-11 from downtown.

Klay Thompson added 24 as the Warriors moved to 11-2 on the season, winning their sixth in a row.

Golden State outscored Miami 23-11 in the decisive fourth quarter, thanks to a 14-0 run after falling behind 95-9 midway through the final 12 minutes. 

"The beauty of this team is we can play both ends," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. "We have the personnel to score. We have the personnel to guard."

The Warriors limited the Heat to 17.6 percent from the floor on just three made field goals in the fourth quarter. Miami shot 27.5 percent in the second half. 

"Second half - everybody was more in tune," Kerr said. "We got to their 3-point shooters. We ran them off the line. In the end, we got it rolling."

Picking up from the fourth quarter, where the Warriors held a 91-86 lead:

9:00, Q4 -- Former Long Beach State star James Ennis' break away dunk pulls the Heat within 93-92.

7:37, Q4 -- Heat's D forces a shot clock violation. 

7:25, Q4 -- Shabazz Napier makes thee straight free throws to give the Heat a 95-93 lead.

6:53, Q4 -- Josh McRoberts misses the hammer dunk, but gets to the line for two. ... misses both.

6:45, Q4 -- Draymond Green makes a pair of FTs to even the game at 95-95.

6:11, Q4 -- Klay Thompson called for an offensive foul on a drive to the paint.

5:46, Q4 -- Good D from the Warriors, forcing Mario Chalmers into a bad (and deeep) three ... Andre Igoudala called for an offensive foul ... stuck on 95s.

5:18, Q4 -- Turnover Heat. 

5:11, Q4 -- Harrison Barnes draws a foul on the drive. ... splits the FTs ... Warriors up 96-95.

4:31, Q4 -- Thompson sticks his second three of the game ... 99-95 Warriors. 

4:09, Q4 -- Chris Bosh turnover leads to two Steph Curry FTs ... 101-95 Warriors.

3:44, Q4 -- Chalmers' desperation three attempt off the mark. 

3:29, Q4 -- Curry turns that missed three into three for the Warriors, who are on an 11-0 run. ... 104-95 Golden State.

2:50, Q4 -- Thompson adds a three to give the Warriors a 107-95 lead. ... Thompson has 24, Curry with 35. 

2:31, Q4 -- Luol Deng added a free throw ... Heat down 10. 

1:38, Q4 -- A bad pass from Chalmers results in a turnover following an empty possession by the Warriors ... timeout, Miami still down 10. 

1:13, Q4 -- Curry adds two more with a layup off the glass ... he's got 38. ... Warriors up 112-97.

:45.7, Q4 -- Curry back to the line ... makes two more ... 40 points.

FINAL -- Warriors 114, Heat 97

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Ranking Reaction: Playoff committee consistently inconsistent

For the College Football Playoff selection committee, tasked as it is with reams and reams of data, numbers and metrics, there are three foundational ways to view regular-season opponents for teams in the Playoff hunt: what they were before game day, what they were on game day and what they are today.

Call this one aspect of the committee's weekly battle between perception and reality.

Perception, for example, finds that Mississippi State, which remained in fourth in this week's Top 25 ranking, has compiled wins against a slew of quality opponents — LSU, Texas A&M, Auburn and Arkansas. Reality suggests otherwise: Mississippi State has just one win, versus Auburn, against teams in the Playoff Top 25.

FOOTBALL FOUR: Rating and debating college football and the Playoff

"I think they're holding strong where they're located now," selection committee chairman Jeff Long said of the Bulldogs. "While they only have one win over a currently ranked Top 25 win, they do have wins over teams that were previously in the Top 25. The committee takes that into account."

Later, Long would attempt to clarify his remarks by saying he was referencing only the Playoff ranking — which made its debut on Oct. 28 — and not the two Amway Coaches Poll or Associated Press Top 25, which first appeared in the preseason.

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MLB: Boston Red Sox sign Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez

Third baseman Sandoval has signed a five-year $95m deal with Ramirez, who is set to make a move to the outfield next season, agreeing terms on a four-year $88m pact.

The Red Sox had the second-worst batting average in the American League last season at .244, going from the 2013 World Series champion to a last-place finish in the AL East division, but Ramirez and Sandoval will provide their offense with an instant boost.

Sandoval won three World Series titles with the San Francisco Giants, most recently in October, when only the heroics of pitcher Madison Bumgarner denied him the chance of a second post-season MVP award.

"I need a new challenge," Sandoval said. "I'm happy to be here right now. It's exciting to be here with Hanley and David (Ortiz).

"I know that I had a great career in San Francisco. But I'm going to have a new one here."

Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington added: "There was a lot about Pablo that appealed to us. This was an opportunity to add a really great player, a great person, and a great fit for our team at a position we need."

Ramirez is a career .300 hitter, but he battled injuries over the past two seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers and is set to become Boston's new left-fielder after spending most of his career at shortstop.

"His willingness and openness to embracing it was really appealing to us," Cherington said.

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NFL notebook: Two Seahawks make a point at news conference

Sherman, Baldwin make point at news conference

With the help of a cardboard cutout, the Seattle Seahawks’ Richard Sherman and Doug Baldwin took some digs at the NFL during a news conference on Tuesday after the league issued a $100,000 fine to teammate Marshawn Lynch for not speaking to the media.

Sherman and Baldwin spoke ahead of Thursday’s game against San Francisco. Baldwin hid behind a cutout of himself, with Sherman standing to the side of the podium as the pair bantered back and forth for about 2½ minutes.

Sherman took only one question and after the pair referenced a number of personal sponsors — many of which are not NFL sponsors — walked off without speaking about Thursday’s game.

Cardinals sign RB Bush • The Arizona Cardinals signed running back Michael Bush on Tuesday and released Kerwynn Williams.

Bush has 809 carries for 3,250 yards and 29 touchdowns along with 104 receptions for 1,010 yards and two touchdowns over a seven-year NFL career.

Bush entered the league as a fourth-round pick of the Oakland Raiders in the 2007 draft. He sat out his rookie season because of a leg injury then played for the Raiders from 2008 to 2011 before signing with the Chicago Bears in 2012.

He played in 15 games with the Chicago Bears last season and was released in March.

Broncos switch kickers • A person with knowledge of the transactions says the Denver Broncos have switched kickers again, waiving rookie Brandon McManus and signing Connor Barth, who hasn’t played since 2012.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity Tuesday because the moves hadn’t been announced. The Denver Post first reported the switch.

Barth, a five-year veteran, and 13-year pro Jay Feely worked out for the team Tuesday, 48 hours after McManus clanked a 33-yard field goal off an upright in Denver’s 39-36 win over Miami.

The Broncos traded a seventh-round draft pick to the Giants for McManus in August after Matt Prater’s suspension. They later released Prater, who signed with Detroit.

Solid on kickoffs, McManus was 9 for 13 on field goal attempts.

Titans’ Schwenke to IR • Tennessee Titans placed center Brian Schwenke on injured reserve and released veteran linebacker Shaun Phillips in a flurry of moves Tuesday.

Schwenke hurt his left knee in Sunday’s 43-24 loss at Philadelphia and had an MRI exam Monday. The Titans replaced the second-year center by agreeing to terms with offensive lineman Eric Olsen, who Tennessee cut at the end of training camp. Olsen and has played 18 games in five seasons with Denver, New Orleans and Pittsburgh.

The Titans cut their losses after signing Phillips to a two-year deal in March. He had only two sacks and 28 tackles in 11 games.

Lions release TE Davis • Detroit has released tight end Kellen Davis.

The Lions also announced Tuesday that they have signed guard Rodney Austin from the practice squad and signed linebacker Jerrell Harris to the practice squad.

Davis, 29, played three games for the Lions this season without catching a pass.

Redskins name case • A judge is allowing the Washington Redskins to move ahead with a lawsuit seeking to overturn a cancellation of the team’s trademark.

The team sued in August after a federal panel, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, ruled that the Redskins trademark should be cancelled because it may be disparaging to Native Americans.

The legal challenge over the team name has been winding through the legal system since 1992.

The Redskins’ lawsuit names the five Native Americans who filed the challenge with the trademark board as defendants. Those defendants wanted the case tossed out of federal court in Alexandria, arguing that the Redskins should sue the trademark board, not them.

But Judge Gerald Bruce Lee ruled Tuesday that federal law allows the Redskins to sue the Native Americans.

Jets’ Amaro has head injury • Jets rookie tight end Jace Amaro has a head injury and defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson has an ailing toe.

Both players were injured in the Jets’ 38-3 Monday loss to the Buffalo Bills.

Coach Rex Ryan said that Amaro, who leads NFL rookie tight ends with 34 catches for 291 yards receiving, is going through the NFL’s concussion protocol. His status for Monday’s game against Miami is uncertain. Ryan said Wilkerson’s toe injury “doesn’t look great,” but hopes it improves so he can play.

Chargers’ Ohrnberger out with back injury • San Diego center Rich Ohrnberger has been placed on season-ending injured reserve with a back injury that will require surgery.

He is the third Chargers center to go on IR this season, following Nick Hardwick and Doug Legursky.

Ohrnberger started seven of the eight games he played this season.

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