Panthers’ Lotulelei to miss playoff game due to broken foot
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(1:51 pm ET) Panthers coach Ron Rivera said defensive lineman Star Lotulelei has a broken bone in his foot, per The Charlotte Observer. He will miss Saturday’s divisional playoff game at Seattle and his status beyond this week is unclear.

The second-year defensive tackle totaled 25 tackles (18 solo) and two sacks in 14 games during the regular season.

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers not practicing Wednesday
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(1:32 pm ET) Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was absent from the portion of Wednesday’s practice open to the media. Backup quarterbacks Matt Flynn and Scott Tolzien were taking all the reps as the team is preparing for Sunday’s divisional playoff game against the Cowboys.

Rodgers indicated he might miss practice time this week because of a lingering calf injury. However, it doesn’t appear the injury will keep him sidelined for Sunday’s game.

“It feels better,” Rodgers told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Tuesday. “We’ll see what happens this week, as far as practice reps. Everybody’s so concerned about them. I’m not. And my teammates aren’t either. We’d like to get out there at some point and move around a little bit. It just depends on how I’m feeling.”

The Packers are 6-point favorites for Sunday’s playoff game.

Maurice Jones-Drew wants to return to Oakland in 2015
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(1:26 pm ET) Veteran running back Maurice Jones-Drew by no stretch of the imagination had a productive year in 2014 — his first with the Raiders. The 29-year-old running back totaled just 43 carries for 96 rushing yards and 11 catches for 71 yards in 12 games (one start).

Despite a down year and falling behind the likes of Darren McFadden and Latavius Murray on the team’s depth chart, Jones-Drew would like to return to Oakland in 2015.

“My body feels good and wish I played more. I want to stay in Oakland and turn this thing around,” Jones-Drew said, per SiriusXM NFL Radio.

Giants rookie Beckham replaces injured Megatron on Pro Bowl roster
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(1:17 pm ET) Giants rookie wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. has been named to the Pro Bowl as a replacement for Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson, who is unable to play due to injury. Beckham will be the first Giants rookie to play in the Pro Bowl since tight end Jeremy Shockey in 2002.

“It is definitely awesome,” Beckham said, per the team’s official website. “It is something that means a lot to me, and I am definitely going to cherish the moment. I’m very excited to be going to the Pro Bowl.

“The goal (entering the season) is to be either in the Pro Bowl or the Super Bowl. That is every year. That is something you want to be able to build on and put that on your resume. (We) didn’t end up making it to the Super Bowl, but I did get the invite to the Pro Bowl, so I am very excited and blessed for the opportunity.”

Beckham had an outstanding rookie season, totaling 91 catches for 1,305 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Falcons’ Roddy White: ‘I feel I could play two or three more years’
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(12:30 pm ET) Although Falcons wide receiver Roddy White turned 33 years old during the 2014 season, he told 680 The Fan on Wednesday he still feels his playing career is not close to being over, per the team’s official website.

“Actually, I feel pretty good. Throughout the end of the season, I felt like my legs were under me,” White said. “I wish I hadn’t missed two games. That was my goal this year, to get through the year completely healthy, but that didn’t happen for me. I feel I could play two or three more years, if I could just stay healthy through the whole course of a season and not miss any games.”

White capped his 10th season in the NFL with 80 catches for 921 yards and seven touchdowns in 14 games.

“I feel like I’m playing at a really good level,” White said. “Any time you can go out there and catch 80 passes in the NFL, you’re doing pretty good. I feel like I can play another two or three years and be successful.”

Evan Mathis takes Jahri Evans’ spot on Pro Bowl roster
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(12:24 pm ET) Eagles guard Evan Mathis was named to the Pro Bowl on Wednesday as a replacement for Saints guard Jahri Evans, who won’t be able to play due to injury. It’s the second straight year Mathis has been a Pro Bowler.

Patriots’ Julian Edelman says he is past concussion issues
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(12:18 pm ET) After missing the final two games of the regular season, Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman said his concussion is “in the past,” per NESN.com. Edelman is expected to play in Saturday’s divisional playoff game against the Ravens.

The Patriots are 7-point favorites for Saturday’s game.

Federal court sets date for Peterson’s petition to overturn suspension
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(10:29 am ET) The office of U.S. District Judge David Doty announced Tuesday the NFLPA’s petition to have Vikings running back Adrian Peterson‘s suspension overturned will be heard in federal court on Feb. 6 at 2 p.m., according to the Associated Press. The hearing will be in Doty’s courtroom in Minneapolis.

Peterson was suspended by the NFL without pay for the final six games of the 2014 season through at least April 15 due to his child-abuse case. Peterson’s appeal was denied by a league-appointed arbitrator. Following the decision, the NFLPA and Peterson filed their lawsuit Dec. 15 asking the court to dismiss the ruling.

Steelers CB Ike Taylor OK if playing career is over
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(10:08 am ET) Steelers veteran cornerback Ike Taylor was limited to five games in 2014 due to injury. The 34-year-old cornerback would like to return to Pittsburgh in 2015, but if it doesn’t happen, he appears to be OK with it, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

“I am very cool with this being my last year,” Taylor said. “As far as putting the cleats up, I have years left. I have a lot of years left. I am not ready to make that final decision, but I am cool hanging my cleats up if it comes to it.”

Taylor suffered a broken forearm in September and struggled to regain his form after missing two months. Even if Taylor’s playing days are done, he hopes to remain with the Steelers in some role.

“As far as the Steelers organization, it doesn’t have to be with the cleats anymore,” Taylor said. “I can be in the office. I can be at the bottom and work my way up. I can be an assistant. I don’t mind working my way from the bottom up.”

Ravens’ Smith has been the most interfered with WR in NFL
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(9:55 am ET) Ravens wide receiver Torrey Smith has drawn an NFL-leading 12 pass interference penalties for 261 yards this season, which included a a 32-yard pass interference penalty on a third-and-2 play in the third quarter of Saturday’s AFC wild-card win at Pittsburgh.

“I don’t want to be known for a guy that’s just getting held all the time, but it just happens,” Smith said, per ESPN. “I guess most times it’s because I’m moving pretty good, and it kind of surprises them a little bit, so they grab you. If I was a DB [defensive back], I would do the same thing, so I don’t really complain about it too much.”

Smith said he expects to Patriots cornerback Brandon Browner to cover him during Saturday’s AFC divisional playoff game since he feels the Patriots will put a more physical cornerback on him. It could result in more penalties drawn by Smith since Browner leads the Patriots with 15 penalties, including five for pass interference.

“I think the biggest thing is when we do throw to him deep, it’s because we have a good matchup or we have a good coverage for it to work, and he’s doing a great job of winning,” quarterback Joe Flacco said. “It’s all because of him doing his job in the beginning and beating man-to-man or getting over top of the zone, putting himself in position to make that big play and putting the defender in a recovery-type mode and forcing his hand a little bit and making him do something that he probably doesn’t want to.”