Entering Week 8, eleven NFL quarterbacks had not missed a snap on the 2012 regular season. Veterans Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Sam Bradford, Michael Vick, Ben Roethlisberger, Philip Rivers, Josh Freeman were joined by 2012 draft choices Andrew Luck, Ryan Tannehill, Brandon Weeden and Russell Wilson in having perfect playing-time percentages on the season.
Freeman took every snap in Thursday night's 36-17 win over the Minnesota Vikings, keeping his playing-time percentage perfect on the season. On Sunday, three of the remaining 10 quarterbacks would give way to their backups.
Bradford, who did not miss a snap as a rookie in 2010 before having an injury-plagued 2011 season, took a hard hit from New England Patriots linebacker Dont'a Hightower on a 1st-and-20 play with 2:37 to play in the second quarter. Bradford remained on the Wembley Stadium turf, but was able to stay in the game after the St. Louis Rams burned a timeout to avoid having to dust off and insert Kellen Clemens into the game.
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With the Patriots leading 45-7, Brady would turn the reins over to his understudy, Ryan Mallett, while Clemens would close out the loss for St. Louis.
Tannehill injured his left quadriceps and left knee while being sacked by New York Jets linebacker Calvin Pace on a 3rd-and-5 play at the end of the Miami Dolphins' second possession. Tannehill was considered "questionable" to return, but after having the leg worked on, and riding the exercise bike, the No. 8 overall pick of the 2012 NFL Draft remained on the sidelines as the Dolphins opened up a 27-3 lead entering the fourth quarter.
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