NFL notes

COWBOYS

Lee returns from concussion

IRVING, Calif. -- Sean Lee returned to the field for the first time Thursday since suffering a concussion in the first quarter of the Dallas Cowboys' overtime loss to New Orleans on Sunday.

Lee, who is going through the NFL's protocol for head injuries, was active in drills during the portion of the practice open to the media.

The linebacker now appears to be on track to play Sunday against New England and line up alongside Rolando McClain, who returned this week to the active roster following a four-game drug suspension. Lee and McClain have never played a down together.

"Everything is optimistic," Cowboys Coach Jason Garrett said before practice. "He'll be limited, but we're optimistic with how he has responded to everything."

Not seen participating in practice were receivers Dez Bryant (foot) and Brice Butler (hamstring), tight end James Hanna (ankle) and defensive end Randy Gregory (ankle).

BEARS

Jeffery may be out Sunday

Chicago Bears receiver Alshon Jeffery's ailing hamstring continues to limit him, and this Sunday he could miss his fourth consecutive game.

Jeffery did not fully participate in Thursday's practice, as the Bears continue to prepare for their trip to Kansas City to play the Chiefs. The team's No. 1 receiver has fully participated in only two practices since the regular season began.

Among the pitfalls of a lingering injury are repetitive exchanges with reporters, and Jeffery has had his share since Aug. 12, when he suffered a left calf injury that sidelined him for the whole preseason.

Jeffery's chat with media at his locker Thursday afternoon felt familiar.

"I'm just taking it one day at a time," he said. "It's a process. As a player, I want to be out there, too. But it's a process. It's a long season."

Making matters worse for the Bears, receiver Eddie Royal (ankle) sat out practice for the second consecutive day.

DOLPHINS

Anarumo to coach defense

DAVIE, Fla. -- Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle has been fired by new interim coach Dan Campbell.

Defensive backs coach Lou Anarumo was promoted Thursday to replace Coyle. The moves came after the Dolphins fired head coach Joe Philbin on Monday and promoted tight ends coach Campbell.

Coyle was widely criticized for the decline of the defense since he joined the Dolphins in 2012. They gave up 317 points that season, followed by 335 and 373, and after four games they're on pace to allow 404 this season.

Miami (1-3) ranks last in the NFL in rushing defense at 160.5 yards per game, and last with one sack.

Anarumo has been with the Dolphins since 2012. Before that he was defensive backs coach at Purdue from 2004 to 2011.

STEELERS

Blitz has returned

PITTSBURGH -- The blitz is back in the place they used to call "Blitz-burgh."

The Pittsburgh Steelers are fourth in the NFL with 14 sacks heading into Monday night's game at San Diego. New defensive coordinator Keith Butler is taking more risks with his young group and it's paying off with more pressure in the backfield.

Second-year defensive end Stephon Tuitt leads the Steelers with 3½ sacks and said he's been helped by Butler's approach that frees him up to beat the man in front of him rather than just occupy blockers.

All that blitzing, however, comes with a price. Baltimore ran for 190 yards in an overtime victory last week, capitalizing whenever the Steelers got a little overzealous with their pass rush.

Defensive end Cam Heyward says the defense is still trying to find a balance, but needs to be better on first and second down.

PACKERS

Lindy Infante, 75, dies

MIAMI -- Lindy Infante, the hard-luck former coach of the Green Bay Packers and the Indianapolis Colts, died Thursday. He was 75.

Infante's wife, Stephanie, told The Associated Press that he died in St. Augustine after a lengthy illness.

Infante was a head coach for six years in the NFL, compiling a 36-60 record. He was the NFL Coach of the Year in 1989 with Green Bay, but his only postseason appearance came in 1996 when his Colts lost a wild card game to Pittsburgh, 42-14.

"He was the consummate father, husband & coach," Michigan Coach Jim Harbaugh said on Twitter.

Harbaugh was the Colts' starting quarterback in 1996. The next year, the Colts finished 3-13 and Infante was out of a job after two seasons with a 12-20 record. Indianapolis drafted quarterback Peyton Manning the following offseason.

There was bad timing at Infante's first head-coaching stop in Green Bay, too. He went 24-40 from 1988-91. After the Packers finished 4-12 in his final season, the team overhauled its front office, and the following year general manager Ron Wolf acquired Brett Favre from the Atlanta Falcons. The Packers reasserted themselves as one of the league's top teams.

The organization hailed the Infantes for their presence in the community. Packers President Mark Murphy also credited the Infante-led team in 1989 with rekindling enthusiasm in the fan base following a 10-6 season.

"For a franchise that had been struggling for so long to find a winning way, the emergence of that team under Lindy as new coach and (Don) Majkowski as its quarterback gave us great promise for the future," said Murphy's predecessor, Bob Harlan. "It brought back a great deal of excitement in the community we hadn't felt for a long time."

49ERS

LB Brooks' sister dies

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- San Francisco 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks left the team this week after his sister, Krsunthia Brooks, died of lupus, according to the player's agent Greg Williams.

Ahmad Brooks will not be available when his team plays the New York Giants on Sunday.

"We'll keep him in our prayers, his family," 49ers Coach Jim Tomsula said Wednesday.

Brooks flew to Louisiana to attend a memorial service. Those arrangements are still pending. Krsunthia Brooks was 40.

The 49ers withheld comment out of respect for Brooks and the family.

Ahmad Brooks, an AP second-team All-Pro in 2012 and 2013, has 12 tackles and a sack through four games.

Sports on 10/09/2015

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