Packers 59, Colts 24

Aaron Rodgers extended his sharp start to the preseason, throwing for 195 yards and three touchdowns in the first half of Green Bay's rout of Indianapolis at Lambeau Field on Thursday night.

It was a costly night for the Colts. Running back Joseph Addai left the game in the third quarter with a concussion and linebacker Gary Brackett hurt his right hand.

Peyton Manning made plenty of big plays against a porous Packers pass defense early on, but Rodgers was up for an offensive exhibition against one of the NFL's elite quarterbacks. Trailing 17-7 early in the second quarter, Rodgers rallied the Packers (2-1) to a 28-17 halftime lead.

Adding to the injury problems for Indianapolis (0-3), cornerback Jacob Lacey left the game with a concussion, offensive tackle Tony Ugoh hurt his toe and defensive tackle Antonio Johnson sustained a groin injury.

The Packers lost cornerback Brandon Underwood to a shoulder injury, defensive lineman Jarius Wynn to a concussion and linebacker Desmond Bishop to a hamstring injury.

Manning threw for 214 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. He stayed in the game for one series after halftime, only to have things turn ugly.

Manning was hit and stripped of the ball by outside linebacker Frank Zombo, an undrafted free agent making a bid for a roster spot, and it was scooped up by linebacker Robert Francois - who delivered a hard hit Addai when the running back tried to tackle him, leaving him woozy on the sideline.

Anderson to start for Cardinals at Chicago

Matt Leinart has been benched after just two preseason games, this after the Arizona Cardinals gave him the starting job following Kurt Warner's retirement.

It could be just a temporary move - or maybe not.

"Well, I don't think we've played really well enough offensively to make any determination other than we need to get better," Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt said Thursday. "We're looking at different combinations of people."

What Leinart will be looking at is Derek Anderson, signed to be his backup, starting Saturday night in Chicago against the Bears.

Whisenhunt's expectations aren't that high, he would just like to see a few first downs.

"I'd like to see us operate a little better early in the game," Whisenhunt said. "That's not necessarily the first quarter, that's the first quarter, the second quarter. Seems like last week we went three three-and-outs, and then we had a drive going.

"I'd like to see us perform a little better earlier in the game."

Leinart hasn't be able to get it done.

The 10th overall pick in the 2006 draft started for Arizona in a 24-10 loss to Tennessee on Monday night and lasted all of nine plays. He couldn't produce a first down or any points. Leinart was a pedestrian 4 of 6 for 28 yards against the Titans, and is 10 of 13 for 77 yards in Arizona's first two preseason games.

His longest pass of the preseason has been 16 yards, and he has been sacked twice.

Whisenhunt was asked if he explained the change to Leinart on why Anderson worked with the first-team offense Thursday in the team's lone chance to prep for Chicago.

"I'm sure that nobody on this team wants to be in that situation. Once again, I think it's not anything against Matt or the quarterback position. It's we're looking at different people and trying to find out what's the best combination for our team right now," Whisenhunt said.

Urlacher will miss Arizona game

Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher will miss Saturday's preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals as he nurses a left calf muscle strain.

Coach Lovie Smith said Urlacher has improved, but the team is taking no chances. Urlacher was hurt in last Saturday's game against Oakland.

Urlacher has missed every practice this week. Wide receiver Earl Bennett (hamstring), safety Major Wright (finger), safety Craig Steltz (ankle) and quarterback Caleb Hanie (shoulder) have also missed every practice and are unlikely to play.

Daniels eager to return to Texans

Houston Texans tight end Owen Daniels cut sharply, caught a short pass and sprinted 20 yards down the middle of an empty practice field.

The 6-foot-3 Daniels, who made the Pro Bowl after the 2008 season, hopes to be ready for the regular season opener against Indianapolis after getting medical clearance to resume football activities.

Daniels tore a knee ligament midway through last season. He's expected to return to practicing with his teammates on Monday, ending an arduous 10-month recovery.

The Texans were hoping Daniels would be ready for training camp. But a stress fracture appeared in his right kneecap in the spring, a potentially career-threatening setback. Doctors let the new injury heal on its own.

Browns to create ring of honor

The Cleveland Browns are paying homage to their rich past.

The team announced plans for a ring of honor to be unveiled in Browns Stadium, an overdue nod to some of the greatest players in club - and NFL - history. The first group inducted into the ring will be the 16 legends already enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

In that group, are coach Paul Brown, running back Jim Brown, kicker/tackle Lou Groza, quarterback Otto Graham and wide receiver Paul Warfield.

President Mike Holmgren acknowledged the importance of honoring the Browns' storied tradition.

"It's long overdue," said Holmgren, who used similar rings of honor while coaching in Green Bay and Seattle to inspire players.

The team will unveil the ring in a ceremony at halftime of the team's home opener on Sept. 19 against Kansas City.

Holmgren is hopeful that Brown, who was removed as an adviser with the club after Holmgren arrived, will attend the ceremony. Holmgren said he had a "good conversation" with the legendary running back earlier this week.