The New England Patriots shored up their injury-riddled linebacker corps Wednesday by signing Colvin.

Impacts: Colvin spent five seasons with the Patriots before being released in February. He was signed by the Houston Texans, but was released in August and has not played a game this season. Colvin has 414 tackles and 52.5 sacks with the Chicago Bears and Patriots in nine seasons.

The Cowboys put Jones on their 53-man roster Tuesday after the NFL lifted the cornerback's suspension

Impacts: Coach Wade Phillips said this week that he expects Jones to play in nickel and dime packages and be involved in returning kicks Sunday. The coach didn't say if Jones would start.

Schaub should return for Houston's Sunday game at Green Bay, barring any setbacks in the recovery of his injured left knee.

Impacts: Schaub has missed the last four games after he injured his medial collateral ligament early in Houston's loss to Minnesota Nov. 2. He was listed as the backup on Monday night against the Jaguars, but Sage Rosenfels played the entire game. "I think if everything goes OK this week the expectations are that he goes back into his role as our starter," coach Gary Kubiak said. Schaub has thrown for 1,762 yards, 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions in seven games this season.

Burress, who accidentally shot himself in the right thigh over the weekend at a Manhattan nightclub, is done for the year. The wide receiver was charged with illegal weapons possession Monday, and on Tuesday the Giants placed him on the reserve non-football injury list, which means the wide receiver couldn't come back for playoffs, either.

Impacts: This could spell the end of Burress' enigmatic tenure with the Giants, and if he doesn't clean up his act off the field, it could spell the end of his NFL career as well. A highly talented receiver, Burress' antics and periodic ignorance have always gotten in the way of his climbing to the status of the league's truly elite wideouts.

Webster will miss the rest of the season with an ankle injury. The Patriots placed the nine-year veteran on injured reserve Tuesday, two days after he made one tackle in a 33-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Impacts: New England signed Webster as a free agent after last season, his only one with the Buffalo Bills, but released him just before the start of this season. He re-signed on Nov. 5 and played in three games, making five tackles and recovering a fumble.

Grant was among six players suspended for four games Tuesday by the NFL for using a diuretic, which can serve as a masking agent for steroids.

Impacts: Grant was already out for the season because of a triceps injury, meaning his suspension will likely be served at the beginning of the 2009 season.

McCallister was among six players suspended for four games Tuesday by the NFL for using a diuretic, which can serve as a masking agent for steroids.

Impacts: McCallister didn't have much of a fantasy impact this season, and with Reggie Bush returning to full strength, he wouldn't have factored in much down the stretch.

The NFL suspended six players on Tuesday for four games for using a diuretic, which can serve as a masking agent for steroids. Jackson was part of the original investigation, but was not suspended. NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said league chief counsel Jeff Pash had asked for additional information from Jackson.

Impacts: Jackson has 15 solo tackles and a sack for a stout Falcons defense, and he's started 11 of the team's 12 games.

Smith was among six players suspended for four games Tuesday by the NFL for using a diuretic, which can serve as a masking agent for steroids.

Impacts: Losing Smith is a big blow to the Saints' defense, which will be hurting for pass rushers as they try to claw their way back into the NFC playoff picture. New Orleans ranks 24th in the league against the pass.

Williams was among six players suspended for four games Tuesday by the NFL for using a diuretic, which can serve as a masking agent for steroids.

Impacts: The punishment - fellow Vikings tackle Kevin Williams was also suspended - is an especially harsh blow to Minnesota, which leads the NFC North and relies heavily on the two Williamses in its run defense, which ranks second in the league.

Williams was among six players suspended for four games Tuesday by the NFL for using a diuretic, which can serve as a masking agent for steroids.

Impacts: The punishment - fellow Vikings tackle Pat Williams was also suspended - is an especially harsh blow to Minnesota, which leads the NFC North and relies heavily on the two Williamses in its run defense, which ranks second in the league.