Where in the world is DeMeco Ryans?

[Arky]

Ever since the Tennessee game (Game #2), linebacker DeMeco Ryans has been averaging 4.4 tackles/game. He had 12 & 13 tackles in the first two games, Pitt & Tenn respectively.

He's currently 32nd in the NFL in tackles with 47. Teammate Zac Diles is ahead of him in 22nd place with 57 tackles. DeMeco was 2nd in tackles his rookie year (2006) and tied for 6th last year so the lowered production is something some of us are not used to.

Just looking at the game stats, it's easy to figure out where he became injured and continued playing. From Megan Manfull's latest blog, we get this nugget in a reply to a poster:

(He's got ankle and shoulder problems, but he won't talk about them and he won't sit down. So he's trying to play through the pain.) MM

McClain has been saying that it is the type of injury that needs rest, as in, off-season rest and seems to think that even injured, he's better than the other alternatives. I'm a big fan of his and playing through the pain is admirable, but at what point does a 50% (or whatever) DeMeco become a liability? Could a Thompson/Bentley do a better job?