Pro Hogs

NFL report: Swanson gets first start at center

Detroit Lions center Travis Swanson (64) on the sideline against the Cleveland Browns during a preseason NFL football game at Ford Field in Detroit, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2014. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)

Making his first start at center, Travis Swanson had the best game of his young career Sunday for the Detroit Lions

The former Arkansas center allowed only two quarterback hurries and had a positive run blocking grade, according to Pro Football Focus, in the Lions' 30-20 loss to the Green Bay Packers.

"The Packers threw a lot at Swanson in terms of alignments and stunts, and for the most part, the rookie looked like a veteran, both physically and mentally," said Justin Rogers on MLive.com.

Despite Detroit's original plan to use Swanson on special teams, the rookie quickly worked his way into the offense as a sixth offensive lineman.

When starting right guard Larry Warford was injured, Swanson made his way into the starting lineup, filling in for Warford.

Swanson finished the regular season with playing time in all 16 games and five starts.

He is also expected to start in the Lions' first-round playoff game against the Dallas Cowboys because Warford suffered another injury.

Alvin Bailey - Seattle Seahawks

Bailey played seven snaps as a sixth offensive lineman in the Seahawks' 20-6 win over the St. Louis Rams. He finished the season with five starts, the first of his career, and action in 14 games.

The Seahawks received a first-round bye as the NFC's No. 1 seed and will play their first playoff game Saturday, Jan. 10.

Knile Davis - Kansas City Chiefs

In the Chiefs' 19-7 win over the San Diego Chargers, Davis had 23 yards on nine carries and 55 yards on two kickoff returns.

He finished the season with 134 carries for 463 yards and six touchdowns, 16 receptions for 147 yards and one touchdown, and 29 kickoff returns for 829 yards and one touchdown. That is a total of 1,439 all-purpose yards and eight touchdowns on 179 touches.

Making a start in place of Pro Bowl running back Jamaal Charles against the Miami Dolphins Week 3, Davis had 32 carries for 132 yards and one touchdown. His second 100-yard game of the season came the following week, as he gained 107 yards on 16 carries against the New England Patriots.

The highlight of his season, though, was a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown that sparked the Chiefs to a win over the Rams.

Jerry Franklin - New Orleans Saints

After collecting four tackles in seven games with the Chiefs, Franklin ended the season on the Saints' practice squad.

Nate Garner - Miami Dolphins

Garner saw action in 10 games for the Dolphins, but ended the season non-football illness list because of an illness that features migraine-like symptoms.

After starting six games in 2013 and at least one game in each of the last four seasons, he did not start a single game in 2014.

Brett Goode - Green Bay Packers

The Packers had four extra points, three punts and one attempted field goal in their 30-20 win over the Lions. Goode made good snaps on all eight kicks.

It was a mostly successful season for the seven-year veteran, but he did struggle in a Week 11 win over the Eagles, with a low snap leading to an aborted PAT and a breakdown in protection leading to a blocked punt.

Green Bay is the No. 2 seed in the NFC and will play its first playoff game Sunday, Jan. 11.

Chris Gragg - Buffalo Bills

Gragg missed the last five games of the season because of a knee injury and was inactive in the Bills' 17-9 loss to the New England Patriots.

In 10 games, including five starts, he caught seven passes for 48 yards and one touchdown. The touchdown was a game-tying score in a win against the Lions in Week 5.

Peyton Hillis - New York Giants

Because of a concussion suffered in a Week 10 loss to the Seahawks, Hillis ended the season on the injured reserve. He had 26 carries for 115 yards and 10 receptions for 87 yards in nine games this year.

Ryan Mallett - Houston Texans

Mallett spent the first three years of his NFL career as Tom Brady's backup in New England, but he was traded to the Texans before the season.

He finally earned his first start in Week 11 and played well, leading Houston to a 23-7 win over the Cleveland Browns. However, in his second start, Mallett suffered a torn pectoral and was placed on the injured reserve.

In his two starts, Mallett completed 41 of 75 passes (54.7 percent) for 400 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Darren McFadden - Oakland Raiders

For the first time in his career, McFadden played a full 16-game season, but that did not result in a great year.

After gained 13 yards on four carries and six yards on two receptions in the Raiders' 47-14 loss to the Denver Broncos, McFadden finished the season with 534 yards and two touchdowns on 155 carries, 212 yards on 36 receptions, and 59 yards on three kickoff returns.

That is just 805 all-purpose yards on 194 touches.

Jason Peters - Philadelphia Eagles

Peters was the only Eagles offensive lineman to start all 16 games and earned his seventh Pro Bowl selection for his solid play. However, he did struggle some, as he committed 13 penalties, which was five more than any of his teammates.

The Pro Bowl selection earned him a $500,000 bonus.

The highlight of his season came in Week 3, when he was ejected for his role in a brawl between the Eagles and Washington Redskins.

Kiero Small - Baltimore Ravens

After being drafted by the Seattle Seahawks, Small spent time with the Cleveland Browns (making three starts at fullback) and ended the season on the Ravens' practice squad.

Chris Smith - Jacksonville Jaguars

In limited action, Smith had six tackles, three sacks and one forced fumble for the Jaguars in 2014, his rookie season.

One of his sacks was a strip-sack against Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts in Week 12.

George Wilson - Tennessee Titans

In the Titans' season finale (a 27-10 loss to the Colts), Wilson made four solo tackles.

He finished the year with 73 tackles, one sack, four passes defended and one interception in 16 games, which include 10 starts. His 73 tackles rank fifth on the team.

Jarius Wright - Minnesota Vikings

Wright caught three passes for 23 yards before suffering a back injury in the first half of the Vikings' 13-9 win over the Chicago Bears. He did not return to the game.

The performance capped a season in which he caught 42 passes for 588 yards and two touchdowns to establish himself as the Vikings' No. 2 receiver behind Pro Bowler Greg Jennings. He also had five carries for 71 yards (14.2 yards/carry).

In Week 14, he caught an 87-yard touchdown pass in overtime to give the Vikings a 30-24 win over the New York Jets. That game was also his second 100-yard receiving game of the season. Wright had 123 yards in that game and 132 yards in a Week 4 win over the Atlanta Falcons.