For the first time in nine games, Sergio Kindle was active, and the feeling of playing Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts stayed with the second-year outside linebacker.
"It was a good feeling," Kindle said after the team's 24-10 victory. "Between the Jets game [on Oct. 2] and now, I've learned so much more about special teams and defense. So I felt like I was a lot more productive today just because I was more aware of what I need to be doing and what needs to be done."
Kindle did not register a tackle on defense or special teams, but just suiting up was a departure for last year's second-round pick, who had missed last season after fracturing his skull in the offseason and had been deactivated for 11 of his first 12 contests in 2011.
Despite his inactivity, Kindle didn't mope or let himself dissolve into self-pity.
"It's simple. Not getting on the field and being frustrated about it is not going to help," he said. "You've got to look at it as a positive. The coaches won't put you out there unless you're prepared. If you just work hard and continue to stay down, they'll call you when you're ready, and when they do call you, you've got to be prepared. That's what I've been doing from then until now."