Quick Kicks

What sprained ankle?

San Francisco placekicker Jeff Wilkins, who tied a team record with six field goals, nearly didn’t play because of a right ankle sprain suffered last week.

The 49ers even auditioned three kickers, including former Chicago Bear Kevin Butler and ex-Detroit star Eddie Murray, in case Wilkins couldn’t go, but he felt better later in the week, practiced Friday and was a go for Sunday.

“They told me even if they signed a kicker it would have been just for this game, but you still don’t want somebody else doing your job,” Wilkins said. “That gave me a little more initiative.”

Hold on a minute

After catching his first NFL touchdown pass, Rashaan Salaam of the Bears tried to fire the ball into the stands but lost his grip and the ball fluttered instead.

Salaam said he was trying to throw the ball at Raiders fans who had been riding about him about his fumbling problems.

Working for semi-free

Steelers punter Shayne Edge, playing in his first NFL game, was ejected for fighting in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game with Houston, and his $5,000 fine was nearly half his $10,937 game salary. He re-signed with Pittsburgh last week after punter Josh Miller was lost for 2-6 weeks with a hernia.

Hello, goodbye

It was a topsy-turvy week for Jacksonville linebacker Brant Boyer. Waived in the final round of cuts, he was re-signed again Wednesday, released on Thursday then signed again on Friday. Boyer played special teams Sunday, and he missed a tackle on Winslow Oliver’s 22-yard punt return for Carolina.

Putting on the miles

Atlanta’s Bobby Hebert has surpassed 30,000 yards passing in 15 seasons as a professional quarterback.

With his 206 yards Sunday against San Francisco, Hebert has thrown for 18,886 yards in 11 NFL seasons. He also threw for 11,137 yards in four years in the USFL for a combined total of 30,023.

By the numbers

Dave Krieg of the Bears is 12-8 as a starter against the Raiders and he’s 5-0 against Green Bay, Chicago’s opponent next weekend… . Oakland has lost 10 of 11 games dating back to last season… . Donnell Woolford’s two interceptions give him 29 for his career, good for third on the Bears’ all-time list behind Gary Fencik (38) and Richie Petitbon (37)… . The Steelers have a 31-8 record at home under coach Bill Cowher.

Tonight’s game

Dallas at Philadelphia

Line: Eagles by 2-1/2.

Last meeting: Eagles won 20-17 at Philadelphia on Dec. 10, 1995.

Key stats: Dallas is 24th in total offense.

Worth watching: The battle of the running backs. Philadelphia’s Ricky Watters is having a big season, with 398 yards and a 4.9-yard average. The Cowboys’ Emmitt Smith has been banged up and is averaging just 3.3 yards per carry.

Outlook: In their final game without the suspended Michael Irvin, the Cowboys could fall three games behind in the NFC East race. Neither QB Troy Aikman nor Smith are 100 percent, while the Eagles continue to improve under coach Ray Rhodes.