Although it wasn't justification for going for two fourth-quarter fourth downs or calling a 35-yard bomb with a 38-point lead, Patriots coach Bill Belichick had a reason for staying in a three-receiver, shotgun set in the fourth quarter of Sunday's 52-7 blowout of the Redskins.

Tight end Kyle Brady missed most of the second half with an injury. Already missing injured starting tight end Ben Watson and having lost backup Dave Thomas for the season, the Patriots couldn't run conventional two-tight end sets to run out the clock.

"We kind of offensively got knocked out of all of our regular formations there at the end of this game,"' Belichick said. "We had to be pretty much in a three-receiver set."

The formations were understandable. Going for the throats of the already beaten Redskins was another story.

Injury update: Brady's injury didn't appear to be bad. He just got banged up and probably could have gone back into the game if it was necessary. The bigger question for the Patriots is Watson. He's missed two games with an ankle injury. If it's the high ankle injury everyone expects, it could mean he will miss the Colts game in Week 9 and maybe another.

Ailing QB corps: The Panthers' quarterback situation is even more of a mess this week. David Carr took most of the first-team snaps in practice last week, but didn't start against the Colts because of back injury. His back is still sore and Vinny Testaverde was wearing a boot on Monday to protect a sore Achilles injury. This wasn't the Achilles that he tore years ago. It's just an age thing for a 43-year-old quarterback.

Raiders add Dwight: To strengthen their punt return teams, the Raiders worked out a deal to sign wide receiver-kick returner Tim Dwight. The Bucs were also after Dwight, but he accepted the Raiders' one-year offer last Monday. He should be the returner in Week 9 and could help out as a backup wide receiver.

Grady Jackson to the Jags? The Jaguars have the lead in trying to sign former Falcons defensive tackle Grady Jackson. The Titans also have serious interest, but the Jaguars appear to be willing to give Jackson a contract for significantly more than the minimum salary. With John Henderson and Marcus Stroud getting a lot of wear and tear at defensive tackle, the addition of Jackson could be an important one for the Jaguars. He should make his decision by no later than Tuesday.

Playing in pain: Rams coach Scott Linehan revealed RB Steven Jackson has a bulging disc in his back, an injury that shouldn't keep him out of the lineup when the team returns after its Week 9 bye. The question facing the Rams is whether they should consider shutting him down for the season. At 0-8, the Rams season is lost. So is Jackson's bid to have 2,500 combined yards. With lingering groin problems and know a disc problem, it might be a tough to get him ready for next season. Jackson certainly will want to finish the season playing instead of rehabbing, so expect him to play.