Auto-focus on my Nikon malfunctioning?

I have a Nikon D7000 and then lens I'm operating with is a Nikon 50mm Auto focus lens.
Here's the issue: yesterday I believe my lens release button was hit while the camera was in my case. My camera started flashing the "fEE" error, and wouldn't operate. I removed the lens and put it back on several times. It now operates fine save for the auto-focus, (which was working earlier before the 'fEE' error) it focuses fine with the manual focus mode but not on auto-focus. I have switched the AF > M switch, and yes I had it on the Auto-focus mode when I tried this.
So far I have tried to following: removing/replacing the lens, cleaning the contacts, and resetting the auto-focus settings/as well as all camera settings. Nothing has changed. If you have any good tips on how to fix this, that would be awesome.
And again just in case anyone missed it… It's a NIKON D7000 with a 50mm Nikon AF (auto-focus) lens. The Auto-focus on this lens OPERATED perfectly, BEFORE the 'fEE' error.

Thank you for any help you can give.

Added (1). Nikon D7000
NIKKOR 50mm AF lens

The real obvious answer is that some damage occurred to the lens / camera connections and now they can't talk to each other… That's the first thing.

There could have been other damage as well but since the auto focus seems to be the only thing effected right now, that's what I'd look into. But, you can't fix it. This will take a professional.

On your Nikon 50mm lens, rotate the aperture ring to the smallest setting (e.g.: f/22). Then slide the aperture ring lock so the ring can't rotate.

Now your camera can read the full aperture range of your lens and the fEE error should disappear.

If it is an AF rather than AF-S lens, try the advice above - putting the aperture on the minimum.

The fEE error means that the aperture is not locked at the minimum aperture.

However, you indicated the lens had a M/A switch. The AF 50mm D lens does not have such a switch, so I'm not sure which lens you have.

Also, make sure you did not bump the manual/auto switch on the side of the camera (not on the lens). This switch is located just below the lens-release button on the camera.