NFL Player News

Most quarterbacks would be severely hindered with two premier wide receivers out and the loss of a top pass-catching tight end during the game. But Aaron Rodgers isn't like most quarterbacks.

Rodgers overcame the absences of James Jones and Randall Cobb, as well as the late departure of Jermichael Finley, to put up his usual numbers and lead the Packers to a blowout Sunday of the Browns. In the process, he turned unknown Jarrett Boykin into a prolific wideout and earned a quarterback rating of 117.8.

He finished 25 of 36 for 262 yards and touchdowns to three different receivers. He was particularly effective after a first half in which the Packers relied mostly on the ground game. Rodgers was 13 for 18 for 151 yards and two scores after intermission. Including were fourth-quarter scoring strikes to Jordy Nelson and Boykin.

Rodgers and his banged-up receiving corps will be rolling to Minnesota in Week 8 for a Sunday night matchup against the Vikings.

The Rams are preparing for quarterback Sam Bradford to miss the rest of the season after suffering a knee injury Week 7 at Carolina, sources told CBSSports.com NFL Insider Jason La Canfora. An MRI will determine the severity of Bradford's injury.

Kellen Clemens came off the bench Week 7 to replace Bradford.

Jets quarterback Geno Smith completed 17-of-33 passes for 233 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 30-27 overtime victory over the Patriots. Smith added 32 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground.

Smith was also intercepted (a pass which was returned 81 yards for a touchdown) in the first quarter. It was his sixth game of the season throwing an interception.

With the Jets focused on running the ball Sunday, Smith wasn't asked to carry too much of a passing burden, but when he did throw the ball, he tended to go deep, hitting four of his receivers with passes of 17 or more yards at least once. 

This was the third multi-touchdown game of the year for Smith; the rushing touchdown was the second of the season. The 233 yards were the most for Smith since Week 4. 

The Jets are on the road in Week 8, traveling to Cincinnati to face the Bengals. 

Eagles quarterback Matt Barkley saw the first regular-season action of his NFL career Week 7 vs. Dallas after Nick Foles left the game in the fourth quarter with a head injury. Unfortunately, Barkley didn't have a memorable performance, as he threw three interceptions in a 17-3 loss.

All of Barkley's three drives ended with interceptions. In fact, he was picked off on his second NFL throw, but it was called back because of an offsides penalty. Six plays later, however, Barkley did throw his first career interception.

It took him seven plays on his second drive to throw his second interception. Finally, Barkley was leading Philadelphia on a scoring drive late in the game, but his 12-yard pass intended for Jason Avant was picked off by Brandon Carr in the end zone.

Barkley completed 11 of 20 passes for 129 yards. He finished with a 35.2 quarterback rating.

The rookie from USC might make his first career start Week 8 vs. N.Y. Giants, if Foles (head) and Michael Vick (hamstring) aren't healthy enough to play.

Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford threw three touchdown passes Week 7 vs. Cincinnati, but it wasn't enough in a 27-24 loss. Stafford completed 28 of 51 passes for 357 yards and no interceptions.

Stafford's first touchdown pass came on a 3-yard connection to Brandon Pettigrew late in the first quarter after potential touchdown passes to Calvin Johnson and Joseph Fauria fell incomplete. 

Stafford's second touchdown didn't come until midway through the third quarter, when he connected with star receiver Calvin Johnson with a back-shoulder throw on a 27-yard pass. And the duo weren't done.

On a 3rd-and-18 play in the fourth quarter, Stafford heaved a Hail Mary pass for the end zone, which Johnson outleaped three defenders to haul in a 50-yard touchdown to tie the game at 24.

Stafford has surpassed 300 yards three times this season. He also has five multi-touchdown passing games, with seven touchdowns in his last two games. Stafford will look to keep the momentum going Week 8 vs. Dallas.

Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton threw three touchdown passes in consecutive games for just the second time in his career during a 27-24 win Week 7 at Detroit. Dalton completed 24 of 34 passes for 372 yards and no interceptions.

Dalton's second pass of the game resulted in an 82-yard touchdown to star receiver A.J. Green. However, Dalton had completed just 1 of 4 passes by the end of the first quarter. Dalton started to get going in the second quarter and finished the half completing 8 of 14 passes for 172 yards and two touchdowns. His second touchdown was a 12-yard pass to Marvin Jones with 41 seconds left in the second quarter.

Dalton got going early in the third quarter with a 32-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Eifert. Both of Dalton's first-half touchdowns came at the expense of Lions cornerback Chris Houston.

Dalton has six touchdowns to one interception in his last two games. He averaged 354.5 passing yards in wins over the Bills and Lions. Dalton looks to stay hot Week 8 vs. N.Y. Jets.

 Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill got off to a slow start in Week 7 against the Bills Sunday, in a 23-21 loss.

Tannehill was intercepted twice in the first quarter, the first of which was returned for a touchdown. He was much better from that point on, as he eventually finished the game with three touchdowns.

Tannehill found Brandon Gibson for scores twice, once from 13 and then from 4 yards out, and he added a 7-yard touchdown to Charles Clay as well. He finished with 194 passing yards to go with his three touchdowns and two interceptions, while completing 19 of 37 passes. He also added a crucial late fumble that allowed the Bills to kick the go-ahead field goal in the fourth quarter.

Tannehill now has nine touchdowns to seven interceptions through six games, along with seven fumbles. He will try to take care of the ball better in Week 8, when the Dolphins travel to New England Sunday.  

Rams quarterback Sam Bradford "was in significant pain on the sideline" Sunday, after he was forced to leave Week 7 against the Panthers with a knee injury, according to head coach Jeff Fisher.

Bradford had to be carted off the field as a result of the injury and could not return. The team did not announce the extent of the injury, but did say he will be evaluated further later Sunday night, when the team returns to St. Louis.  

Bills quarterback Thad Lewis struggled to get much going in Week 7 against the Dolphins, in a 23-21 win.

Lewis completed 21 of 32 pass attempts for 202 yards, but failed to throw a touchdown, after accounting for three a week ago. He was intercepted for the first time, an added just 13 yards on five rushing attempts.

Lewis has completed 40 of 64 passing attempts for 418 yards in two games, with all three of his touchdowns coming in his first start. With EJ Manuel still recovering from a knee injury, Lewis should get the start yet again in Week 8 against the Saints. 

Rams quarterback Sam Bradford had to leave Sunday's game against the Panthers in the fourth quarter, after going down with an apparent left leg injury.

Bradford was in the game with the Rams down 30-15 when the injury occurred, and he had to be carted off the field. He was unable to return to the game, finishing with 255 yards on 21 of 30 passing, with one touchdown and one interception.

The extent of the injury is not yet known, as the Rams did not give an update on his status by the end of the game. Bradford was replaced by Kellen Clemens at quarterback, and at this point there is no way of knowing if the injury will affect him in Week 8 against the Seahawks.