NFL Player News

Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford completed 28 of his 42 pass attempts for 323 yards with one touchdown and one interception in his team's 24-20 loss to the Cowboys in Sunday's Wild Card game.

Stafford put his team out to a quick lead, connecting with Golden Tate on a 51-yard touchdown less than five minutes into the game. He then drove the team down for another touchdown later in the quarter to give the Lions a big lead. Stafford's interception came on a batted ball on the first play of the second half, but it didn't cost the Lions after Dan Bailey missed a 41-yard field goal on the ensuing drive. However, the Lions offense mustered just a field goal through the entire second half and watched the Cowboys score 17 unanswered points to take the win.

The game was not without controversey, as a fourth-quarter flag against the Cowboys for pass interference on a pass from Stafford to Brandon Pettigrew was picked up after the penalty was announced, with no explanation given as to why the call was waved off. The noncall came on third-and-1 near midfield, and the ensuing shanked punt set the Cowboys up with great field position on what would turn out to be the go-ahead touchdown drive. Stafford acknowledged to media after the game that he believed the pass-inference call should have stood.

For the fourth straight year, Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton came up short in the playoffs. Dalton hit 18 of 35 passes for only 155 yards in Sunday's 26-10 playoff loss at Indianapolis. He did not throw a touchdown or an interception, and lost a fumble getting sacked.

Dalton was hamstrung playing without No. 1 wideout A.J. Green (concussion) and tight end Jermaine Gresham (back), two of his top three targets. Dalton's longest completion went 26 yards to running back Rex Burkhead, who moved to receiver due to the injuries.

It was a disappointing, but predictable ending for Dalton after he put up pedestrian numbers in the regular season. Dalton accounted for 23 touchdowns (four rushing) and 19 turnovers.

The Cowboys have listed the following players as inactive for Sunday's Wild Card game against the Lions: tackles Doug Free (ankle) and Donald Hawkins, quarterback Dustin Vaughan, linebackers Keith Smith and James Anderson, safety Jakar Hamilton and defensive end Kenneth Boatright.

Free was listed as doubtful to play in the first-round playoff game. Linebacker Anthony Hitchens (ankle) and defensive end Tyrone Crawford (illness) are both active after being listed as questionable. The Cowboys will have all nine players listed as probable available Sunday.

Dallas is a 6-point favorite at home against Detroit in the first-round playoff matchup.

Packers coach Mike McCarthy said Friday in his press conference quarterback Aaron Rodgers is still receiving treatment for his calf injury and doesn't expect to see him on the field until Thursday. 

"Aaron is doing well. He's been in treatment during the practice period," McCarthy said. "We'll do the same tomorrow. I really don't see him getting on the practice field until Thursday at the earliest."

Rodgers injured his calf in Week 17 against the Lions while throwing a touchdown pass to Randall Cobb. He left the game briefly but was able to return in the second half. 

The Packers will play Jan. 11 against the highest-seeded team left in the NFC playoffs.

Rams coach Jeff Fisher said quarterback Sam Bradford will have to compete for the starting job in 2015 "with somebody that's not in the building right now." Serious knee injuries ended each of Bradford's last two seasons, and the team wants to restructure his contract, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Fisher did not get specific on the quarterback competition. Backup Shaun Hill is set to hit free agency.

"What that looks like, I can't tell you right now -- from a draft standpoint or from free agency," Fisher said. "But [Bradford] will be competing. We have some work to do obviously, from a contractual standpoint, but I'm confident we'll sort some things out."

Bradford said his rehab is going well, and he threw on the side at practice last week.

In his successful appeal, Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh claimed his feet were numb "and he couldn't tell the difference between [Packers quarterback] Aaron Rodgers' feet and the ground," reports ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The NFL initially suspended Suh one game for stomping on Rodgers' calf and ankle Week 17, then reduced the punishment on appeal to a $70,000 fine without a suspension.

It seems Suh's explanation might have helped him get on the field for Sunday's playoff game at Dallas.

Rodgers expressed skepticism about Suh's intentions before the appeal ruling. "If you step on something in your everyday life, or if you step on somebody on the field, the first reaction seems to be looking back and maybe apologizing with your hands," Rodgers told 540 ESPN in Milwaukee. "Or pulling your foot back right away. And I'm just not sure that's what happened."

Asked about the incident at a press conference Wednesday, Suh repeatedly said: "Next question."

The Lions are 7-point underdogs at Dallas, with most observers giving them a better chance at the upset thanks to Suh's presence.

Browns general manager Ray Farmer said Tuesday it is possible for quarterback Brian Hoyer to be back with the team, according to ESPN.

"If he wants to be back, that leverage is definitely in his court to make that happen," Farmer said.

Hoyer is set to become a free agent this offseason and explore the market. In 14 games this season, Hoyer threw for 3,326 yards with 12 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. It is unclear what kind of deal Hoyer will be looking for or what kind of deal Cleveland would offer the 29-year-old.

Farmer also said he would be willing to add a quarterback to the roster through the draft or free agency this offeseason. 

“Nope, I would not,” Farmer said. “I would not hesitate to take whoever I thought could help this football team and move us forward. The goal is to win.”

Rams quarterback Sam Bradford is currently rehabbing from his second torn ACL in as many years, but has had doubts about returning to the game.

Bradford told reporters Tuesday there was a part of him that was done with football after tearing his ACL in August just before the start of the season. A phone call with current University of Oklahoma offensive coordinator Josh Heupel helped to get him on the right track mentally.

Bradford still believes St. Louis is the best place for him and he still has a lot to prove.

He has only played two full seasons in the league since being drafted No. 1 overall by the Rams in 2010. He has a career 58.6 completion percentage with 11,065 yards and 59 touchdowns. 

No timetable has been set for Bradford's return to the field, but the team will be more deliberate with their rehab during the offseason.

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was asked Tuesday whether he agreed with the NFL suspending Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh for Detroit's playoff game at Dallas. Suh received the suspension for stomping on Rodgers' ankle Sunday.

"Well, I don't know," Rodgers told ESPN 540. "I'm anxious to see what happens with the appeal. If you step on something in your everyday life, or if you step on somebody on the field, the first reaction seems to be looking back and maybe apologizing with your hands. Or pulling your foot back right away. And I'm just not sure that's what happened."

Suh appealed the suspension and is hoping his punishment will be reduced to a fine.

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers called his left calf injury "significant," saying it's injured in two spots, but believes he'll be in better shape for the Jan. 11 playoff game than he was Week 17 against the Lions, reports the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

"I've been doing a lot of treatment around the clock," Rodgers told ESPN 540 on Tuesday. "That's the goal. Mike (McCarthy) is going to give me, I think, as much time off as I need, working up to it. But I'm going to want to get some on-the-field reps when we get into our preparation and we figure out who our opponent is."

Rodgers said the extra week of rest will put him in a "better spot" than he was last Sunday. He would not address whether he'll be 100 percent.

When Rodgers scrambled and hit Randall Cobb for a touchdown Sunday, he thought he might have popped his Achilles tendon. The pain was that intense, Rodgers said.

"That's why I stayed down," he said.

While Rodgers won't miss the playoff game, he admitted the injury has limited him, especially because his game has been "predicated on movement outside the pocket."