Cowboys defensive end Tyrone Crawford (Boise State) has five tackles in nine games. He’ll get a chance to add to those numbers in the wake of defensive end Kenyon Coleman’s season-ending injury. Dallas will replace Coleman with defensive tackle Marcus Spears on run plays and Crawford in passing situations.

• Packers offensive lineman Evan Dietrich-Smith (Idaho State) will make his first start of the season at left guard against the Lions.

• San Francisco’s Mike Iupati (Idaho) leads all NFC guards with 64,094 votes in Pro Bowl balloting at NFL.com. Iupati has started all 41 games at left guard in his career and is bidding for his first Pro Bowl berth.

• ESPN.com’s Pat Yasinskas pointed out last week that much of running back Doug Martin’s (Boise State) success can be traced to yards after contact. “He rarely goes down the first time he’s touched,” Yasinskas wrote. According to ESPN Stats & Information, the Bucs’ rookie ranks third in the NFL with 376 yards after first contact. Only Adrian Peterson (544) and Marshawn Lynch (411) have gained more yards after contact. Of Martin’s 862 rushing yards, 43.6 percent have come after contact.

• Bears defensive end Shea McClellin (Boise State) has been ruled out of Monday’s game against the 49ers because of the concussion he suffered last Sunday against the Texans. Steven Schweickert, writing for windycitygridiron.com, noted that missing game time won’t help the rookie’s growth. “Add in that this isn't his first career concussion (recall the ones he’s had throughout his collegiate career) and this is a pretty rough stumbling block in McClellin’s development,” Schweickert wrote. “He might be back for Minnesota (in Week 12), but don’t be surprised if he's out for another week after this one.”

• Lions wide receiver Titus Young (Boise State) will see a familiar foe when he lines up agains the Packers. Cornerback Davon House went up against Young while playing at New Mexico State. House said he learned to respect Young’s talent. “Coming out into the draft, the question I got a lot was, ‘Who’s the best receiver you’ve played against?’ and I said Titus Young,” House told wbay.com. “I’ve got a lot of respect for the guy. He loves the game, plays hard, and it’s going to be fun going against him again.”

Compiled by Chris Langrill