Packers’ Rodgers feared worst with injury
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers talked about his injury and Ndamukong Suh on Tuesday, saying he initially thought he had a serious problem with his leg and adding that he was interested to see how the NFL handled the appeal of a one-game suspension by the Detroit Lions defensive lineman.
Rodgers came into Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Lions with a left calf muscle pull from the previous week’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
“My initial thought was I popped my Achilles,” Rodgers said Tuesday during his radio show in Milwaukee. “That’s why I kind of stayed down. It was a very painful sensation.”
It turned out that Rodgers reinjured the calf muscle, but he’s hoping to be fully healed before a Jan. 11 NFC divisional playoff game. The Packers received a first-round bye after beating the Lions and securing the NFC North title.
“I don’t think it’s a good thing,” Rodgers said of the injury. “The fact that the inside (of the calf) was real weak because that was the initial point of strain in the Tampa game, the outside just kind of gave out on the scramble and the throw. Fortunate that we have two weeks here because I feel confident that I’ll be in a better spot than I was going into the Lions game with an extra week of rest.”
Rodgers is taking it easy and receiving treatment. The Packers are off until Friday.
Cavs’ James sits out with sore knee
ATLANTA — Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James was scratched from the lineup against the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday night because of soreness in his left knee.
James, who is celebrating his 30th birthday, had recurring soreness in his knee dating to an injury that occurred during the Christmas game against Miami. James hurt the knee when he crashed into some seats in the third quarter of the loss to his former team.
James is averaging a team-leading 25.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 7.6 assists. He is listed as day-to-day.
The Cavs also were without forward Shawn Marion because of a sprained ankle, but point guard Kyrie Irving returned after missing two games with a bruised left knee.
Jazz guard Burks could be out for season
There is a chance Utah Jazz guard Alec Burks could be out for the season, according to an ESPN report.
“Hearing there are renewed fears in Utah that Alec Burks’ latest shoulder issues will shelve him long-term … and possibly for the season,” ESPN’s Marc Stein tweeted.
Burks started 27 games for the Jazz this season, averaging 13.9 points a game while shooting about 38 percent from beyond the 3-point line.
Blue Jackets put winger Atkinson in injured reserve
The Columbus Blue Jackets placed right winger Cam Atkinson on injured reserve retroactive to Saturday and called up center Sean Collins from Springfield of the American Hockey League on Tuesday.
Atkinson is expected to be sidelined for one to two weeks with an upper-body injury sustained during Saturday night’s game against the Boston Bruins.
The 25-year-old has eight goals and six assists in 33 games this season. He was coming off a career year in 2013-14 when he had 21 goals and 19 assists for 40 points in 79 games.