Returner Recap and Latest News: Week 12

Photo: USA Today Sports

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The base return projections for a week can be seen on this page. You can also go to the content for the week and use the Returner Projections link to get to that page.

UPDATES

Marlon Moore is dealing with a hamstring injury and Cleveland has already ruled him out for their Week 12 game. Taylor Gabriel should be in the mix to see returns with Moore out though the team has a few other options they could use.

Bears kick returner Chris Williams is also dealing with a hamstring. Chicago has signed Marc Mariani to handle returns for Williams, who has been ruled out for this week.

Week 11 Recap

Top Performers

In his first week back as the Giants kick returner, Preston Parker made a bid to keep the job with 129 yards on 5 returns, enough to lead the league in return yards. Andre Roberts was close behind, with 124 yards off of 5 kick returns and 2 punt returns. Markus Wheaton joined the action with 5 kickoff returns of his own for 123 total yards.

The longest punt return of the week was from Micah Hyde in Green Bay, who took his lone return back 75 yards for the only return touchdown of the week. Keenan Allen is seeing a growing percentage of punts in San Diego, handling 4 for 44 yards in Week 11.

With Baltimore on a bye, Jarvis Landry seized the opportunity to pass Jacoby Jones on the total yardage leader board. Landry's 798 yards bettered Jones's total by 1 yard, though Jones leads Landry in touchdowns by the same margin.

All Week 11 Returners

Here are all returners for Week 11.

Returners Year to Date

Here are the top 40 returners for the year based on total return yards.

Week 12 Outlook

Job Changes

The Colts signed notable returner Josh Cribbs to try to shore up a poor return game. Prior to this, Griff Whalen had been handling most of the return duties, with Dan Herron also seeing some kick returns. The Colts began to work T.Y. Hilton in on returns in an attempt to provide a spark, but the team now can be expected to rely on Cribbs.

LeGarrette Blount was released by the Steelers after leaving the field early, upset over not receiving any carries in Pittsburgh game Monday night.

Chris Polk took back over kickoff returns for the Eagles this week, his first returns since Week 3.

The Giants used receiver Preston Parker on kickoff returns and Odell Beckham Jron punt returns. The team has made many switches at kick returner this season, making it a difficult position to count on any individual, though Parker had a solid 25.8 yard average on his 5 returns this week.

Though players other than Marcus Thigpen showed on the stat line as kick returners for Tampa Bay, their returns were the result of squib and short kickoffs. Thigpen remained their primary returner.

Philly Brown returned to the Panthers lineup and took back punt return duties, but Carolina opted to use both Fozzy Whittaker and Brenton Bersin on kickoff returns.

Wide receivers Doug Baldwin and Paul Richardson Jr split the kickoff returns for Seattle this week, while Bryan Walters continued to handle punts.

INJURIES OF NOTE

Buffalo returners continue to drop as Leodis McKelvin suffered a season-ending fractured ankle. With Marquise Goodwin inactive due to an injury, the team turned to Bryce Brown for kickoff returns and Robert Woods on punts. The Bills could stick with both players, use Goodwin if healthy, or could turn to Nickell Roby or Sammy Watkins this week.

Atlanta's Devin Hester suffered a sprained wrist that forced him to leave the game. His status for Week 12 has yet to be determined.

A broken thumb has landed Saints punt returner Brandin Cooks on Injured Reserve. Cooks was bottled up all season as a returner. The job will likely pass back to Travaris Cadet now.

Running back Bishop Sankey handled kick returns with Leon Washington out due to an injury. Washington may return this week, so it might have been a one week stint for Sankey.

Though Travis Carrie played in Oakland's game against San Diego, his ankle was bothering him enough for the Raiders to continue to use Latavius Murray on kick returns and Denarius Moore on punt returns. Though both had poor outings, they will likely handle returns again as Carrie may miss this week's game.