Patriots Star WR Wes Welker Injures Knee

New England Patriots receiver Wes Welker injured his left knee in the first quarter of a 34-27 loss to Houston.

Welker's left knee buckled on a play during New England's first possession of Sunday's 34-27 loss to the Houston Texans in the final regular season game before next Sunday's playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens.

The extent of Welker's serious knee injury should become clearer from an examination Monday.

CBSSports.com's Pete Prisco:
Welker Should Not Have Played

Patriots coach Bill Belichick said Welker was being examined, but he had no further update. The NFL leader with 123 receptions was to undergo an MRI, his mother, Shelley Welker, said in a phone interview with The Associated Press.

Quarterback Tom Brady said in his weekly appearance on WEEI radio that the Patriots have a Welker-oriented offense and would have to evolve from that.

Brady said the team has to "move on and we've got to go out there and play."

Welker entered the game with 122 catches for 1,336 yards and four touchdowns this season.

Coach Bill Belichick's decision to play many of his starters will likely be second-guessed after his leading receiver was hurt.

Dolphins Rookie QB Carted Off Field with Head Injury

Miami Dolphins rookie quarterback Pat White was carted off the field with a head injury Sunday after a chilling helmet-to-helmet collision with Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor.

White moved his arms and legs and was talking before leaving the field to go to a hospital for examination.

"The information that we have is that he's doing OK," Dolphins coach Tony Sparano said following the 30-24 loss.

White landed on his stomach after the collision in the third quarter, and Steelers players immediately began waving for help.

"It didn't look good," Dolphins quarterback Chad Henne said. "It was just good to see he was moving."

Air rescue was canceled for White, and he was driven to Broward General Hospital.

The collision came at the end of a 7-yard gain on a keeper by White. Taylor was unhurt.

White took over to begin the third quarter after blurred vision sidelined Henne, the Dolphins' starter. Henne said he had a bruise under his left eye when he was sacked late in the first half, and his vision became worse at halftime.

"I was hoping it would clear up," he said. "I just didn't have perception. I just couldn't really visualize my throw."

Cowboys RB Knocked Out with Concussion

Cowboys running back Tashard Choice was knocked out of Dallas' 24-0 win over the Eagles with a concussion. Choice didn't play again after taking a hit to the head in the first quarter.

Based on stricter NFL guidelines instituted late this season, a concussion likely would keep Choice out of the Cowboys' opening playoff game.

Packers' Woodson Injures Shoulder

Green Bay Packers cornerback Charles Woodson left a 33-7 win over Arizona late in the first half with a shoulder injury. Coach Mike McCarthy said it wasn't serious.

The injury came one possession after Woodson returned an interception 45 yards for a touchdown. He broke the Packers record with his eighth defensive touchdown - seven interception returns and one fumble return - since coming to the team in 2006.

He had been bothered by shoulder problems recently but was in the starting lineup.

Arizona Cornerback Hurts Knee, Wide Receiver Injures Ankle

Cardinals cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie left with a bruised left kneecap. Rodgers-Cromartie, in his second season, leads Arizona in interceptions with six and was selected to the Pro Bowl.

He was taken off the field on a cart with 13:23 left in the first quarter while tackling Packers tight end Jermichael Finley.

"It's feeling a whole lot better than when it first happened," Rodgers-Cromartie said. "It's just real sore."

He insisted he would play next weekend in the playoffs against Green Bay.

Arizona wide receiver Anquan Boldin injured his left ankle in the third quarter. Although the injury did not appear serious, he limped off the field and did not return.