Latest from the NFL: Bills WR Easley hurt
The latest from NFL games on the 16th Sunday of the regular season (all times EST):
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2:15 p.m.
Buffalo Bills receiver Marcus Easley has been carted off the field after an injury covering a punt midway through the second quarter against Dallas.
The special teams ace appeared to plant his left leg awkwardly while attempting to get to Cowboys returner Lucky Whitehead during a 28-yard return.
Easley's leg was immobilized and he needed help to sit up. An emotional Easley covered his head in a towel and held it near his eyes.
He will not return.
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2 p.m.
Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten caught a 12-yard pass from Kellen Moore to set the team record for consecutive games with a catch.
It was the 118th consecutive game with a reception for Witten, who entered the game tied with Hall of Famer Michael Irvin. The first game of his streak came on Nov. 16, 2008.
- Nick Mendola reported from Orchard Park, New York.
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1:40 p.m.
The New England Patriots are down yet another offensive lineman.
Starting left tackle Sebastian Vollmer was carted from the field during the Patriots' first offensive possession against the New York Jets with an injured left leg. He appeared to get tied up in a pile on Joey Iosefa's run for no gain on third-and-1 from the Patriots 39.
Trainers came out to check on Vollmer, who appeared to be wincing in pain as his left leg and foot were being examined. After being helped to the cart, several of his teammates and Jets players came over and patted him on the shoulder and back.
New England announced that Vollmer was out for the rest of the game.
The Patriots have used 11 starting combinations on their offensive line because of injuries throughout the season. Vollmer opened the season as New England's starter at right tackle, but moved to left tackle after Nate Solder was injured.
- Dennis Waszak reporting from East Rutherford, N.J.
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1:30 p.m.
Move over, Al Toon.
Brandon Marshall broke the New York Jets' single-season franchise record for catches, with a 5-yard reception against the New England Patriots.
Marshall, in his first season with the Jets, entered the game tied with Toon, who caught 93 passes during the 1988 season. On third-and-3 from the New York 41, Marshall took a pass from Ryan Fitzpatrick and converted the first down midway through the opening quarter.
Marshall and Eric Decker came into the game with a combined 165 catches, 2,191 yards receiving and 21 TDs (the most combined in team history). They also ranked first among NFL receiver tandems in receptions, second in yards and tied for first in TDs.
Toon was a three-time Pro Bowl selection from 1985-92, but was forced to retire at 29 years old because of several concussions. He had 517 receptions for 6,605 yards and 31 touchdowns.
- Dennis Waszak reporting from East Rutherford, New Jersey.
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1:25 p.m.
Anquan Boldin is in the 1,000-catch club.
The San Francisco 49ers receiver became the 13th NFL player with at least 1,000 receptions on the first snap of Sunday's game at Detroit. Blaine Gabbert threw a short pass to Boldin, who gained 5 yards on the play. Boldin had two more receptions on the opening drive, helping San Francisco take a 7-0 lead against the Lions.
Boldin reached the milestone in his 185th game, a pace that trails just Marvin Harrison (167), Andre Johnson (168), Jerry Rice (181) and Larry Fitzgerald (182) in league history. Earlier this season, the former Arizona Cardinals and Baltimore Ravens receiver became the first player in league history to have at least 50 receptions and 600 yards receiving in his first 13 seasons.
- Larry Lage reporting from Detroit.
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1:20 p.m.
Mo Lewis was one of the biggest playmakers in New York Jets history and also helped set the course of New England Patriots - and NFL - history.
The former linebacker made a rare public appearance since retiring after the 2003 season, serving as the Jets' ''pilot of the game'' and joining Darrelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie, Buster Skrine, Marcus Gilchrist and Calvin Pryor for the coin toss Sunday at MetLife Stadium. He was a three-time Pro Bowl selection, had 52 1/2 sacks, 13 fumble recoveries, 14 interceptions and 1,006 tackles, but might be best remembered for his hit on Drew Bledsoe on Sept. 23, 2001.
The Patriots quarterback scrambled to his right after being flushed out of the pocket late in the fourth quarter. As he ran down the right sideline and headed out of bounds, Lewis slammed into Bledsoe's left side and shoulder. Bledsoe played another series, but had suffered massive internal bleeding.
He was replaced at the end of the game by a kid named Tom Brady, who was in his second season. Brady led the Patriots to a Super Bowl victory that season, Bledsoe was traded the next offseason - and the Patriots dynasty was born.
- Dennis Waszak reporting from East Rutherford, N.J.
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12 p.m.
Ryan Mallett is slated to start at quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Mallett is the fourth different starting quarterback for the Ravens over a six-week span.
Joe Flacco started 137 consecutive regular-season and playoff games, the most to begin a career in NFL history, before tearing an ACL in his left knee in November.
Matt Schaub started two games and Jimmy Clausen started two, and now it's Mallett, who was signed Dec. 15.
Clausen was placed on the inactive list for Sunday's game.
Mallett was cut by the Houston Texans on Oct. 27 after missing a flight to Miami. He will probably get a two-week tryout to determine if he's backup quarterback material for next season.
- David Ginsburg reporting from Baltimore
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