Packers’ Rodgers done for season
Aaron Rodgers for the season.
The Packers put their star quarterback on injured reserve Tuesday, a day after they were eliminated from playoff contention.
Rodgers missed seven games after breaking his right collarbone Oct. 15 against the Vikings. He returned Sunday, but the Packers lost 31-24 to the Panthers. The Falcons’ win against the Buccaneers on Monday night ended the Packers’ eight-year run of consecutive postseason berths.
Brett Hundley will get the start for the Packers in Saturday’s home game against the Vikings. Joe Callahan was signed as his backup. The Packers also released fullback Joe Kerridge from the active roster. is done
The Steelers lead the NFL in one category this season: most Pro Bowl players.
Antonio Brown, Le’Veon Bell and Ben Roethlisberger are among eight Steelers selected for the all-star game. They will be joined on Jan. 28 in Orlando, Fla., by tackle Alejandro Villanueva, guard David DeCastro, center Maurkice Pouncey, kicker Chris Boswell, and linebacker Ryan Shazier, who is injured. Brown, also injured but expected back for the playoffs, was voted a starter, as were Bell and the three offensive linemen.
The Eagles and Saints each placed six players in the game.
Four rookies were chosen in voting by NFL players, coaches and fans: running backs Alvin Kamara of the Saints and Kareem Hunt of the Chiefs, cornerback Marshon Lattimore of the Saints and safety Budda Baker of the Cardinals, selected as a specialteamer.
Five teams have no representatives: the Jets, Browns, Colts, Bears and Packers.
The Steelers will have to pick up the pieces from an emotional loss to the Patriots without Brown.
Coach Mike Tomlin said Brown will miss the Christmas Day game against the Texans with a contusion on his left calf. The NFL’s leading receiver left in the second quarter against the Patriots after getting tangled up while trying to catch a pass in the end zone.
Tomlin declined to get into the specifics of Brown’s injury and didn’t put a timetable on a possible return.
“I just know he’s out next week,” Tomlin said.
The Lions put WR TJ Jones on injured reserve with a shoulder problem. The Lions also announced that they signed WR Andy Jones to the active roster from the practice squad and signed CB Adairius Barnes to the practice squad . ... The Broncos put LB Shane Ray on IR. He played in just eight games after breaking his left wrist in July and undergoing surgery. Ray missed the first six games of the season and when he returned he wasn’t his usual self because he was unable to lift weights and he dropped from 242 to 225 pounds. He collected 15 tackles and one sack a year after posting 48 tackles and eight sacks The Broncos promoted CB Michael Hunter from their practice squad to take Ray’s roster spot.