St. Louis Rams – Blog

Rams Working Through Injuries

- The Rams got back to work on Wednesday and began on field preparation for Sunday’s game against Seattle.

- On the injury front, there wasn’t much new to report. As expected, RB Steven Jackson was held out because of his groin injury. Spagnuolo indicated that Jackson was “improved” from earlier in the week but the Rams will continue to play it day to day with the goal of having him ready to play on Sunday regardless of practice reps this week.

- S Oshiomogho Atogwe also sat out the practice as his thigh injury continues to be a nuisance. The Rams will take a similar approach to Atogwe as Jackson in hopes of having him Sunday.

- WR Laurent Robinson (foot) and S Darian Stewart (hamstring) were also held out of the practice and are day to day.

- DT Clifton Ryan still hasn’t been cleared to go as he waits for word on his migraine headaches. Spagnuolo said doctors are still trying to figure out the root of the issue before Ryan is ready to return.

- TE Michael Hoomanawanui (ankle), TE Billy  Bajema (knee), LB Chris Chamberlain (knee) and DT Darell Scott (ankle) are status quo and did not practice.

- On the bright side, safety Craig Dahl was cleared from his concussion issues and returned to practice. He is still on a no contact order for practice but did most of the reps as the Rams don’t have a ton of contact in Wednesday drills. Dahl is wearing a visor to help protect him from brightness issues with the sun.

- RB Keith Toston made it through practice with his banged up shoulder and looked to be just fine.

- New addition RB Chauncey Washington also took part in his first practice and said he is adjusting to a different offense. He will be expected to contribute on special teams right away, though. He’s wearing No. 33, for the record.

- The Rams also officially brought back CB Kevin Dockery and placed CB Marquis Johnson on the practice squad. Dockery appears to be back to health from his previous hamstring injury.

- Indications are that John Greco will continue to work in at guard this week against the Seahawks. The Rams got a jolt from Greco, particularly in the running game against the Redskins. For his part, he says he’s happy to be healthy and contributing to the team in any way possible.

- Back tomorrow with notes from Thursday’s practice. As always, thanks for taking a look.

Wrapping Up Washington

- Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo just did his weekly reflection on the Rams’ victory yesterday against Washington and remains proud of his team’s efforts but also is clearly ready to get to work on this week and the Seahawks.

- Before delving into some of Spagnuolo’s thoughts, let’s get to the injury updates.

- First and foremost, RB Steven Jackson’s MRI came back with good news. He does NOT have a torn groin. It’s being called a strain and it’s apparently pretty mild. Jackson, on his Twitter feed (@sj39) earlier today said he was walking “pretty cool” and was feeling OK. The Rams will not rush him back but there is at least a possibility he could play this week. He’s being called day to day and the Rams will see how he’s feeling on Wednesday before throwing him into a practice.

- S Oshiomogho Atogwe aggravated his already ailing thigh injury when he was the victim of an illegal crackback block from Washington’s Santana Moss. Atogwe came out on the play and did not return to the game. Spagnuolo says the Rams are “hopeful” that he’ll be able to go this week but like Jackson, Atogwe will be closely monitored the rest of the week.

- The most serious of the injuries, as expected, was the torn ACL which was confirmed for WR Dominique Curry on Monday morning. He is out for the year and will be placed on injured reserve.

- S Craig Dahl did his exertion test Monday morning as he recovers from his concussion. He is expected to meet with an independent doctor on Tuesday morning and could be cleared in time for practice Wednesday. Even if that’s the case, though, Spagnuolo says he won’t be able to participate in contact drills Wednesday.

- DT Clifton Ryan is still dealing with his migraine issues but the Rams and Ryan remain optimistic that he’ll be cleared and ready to go this week.

- TE Billy Bajema (knee), LB Chris Chamberlain (foot), TE Michael Hoomanawanui (ankle) and WR Laurent Robinson (foot) are progressing as expected. Only Robinson would seem to have a chance to return this week but they are progressing toward getting back.

- On the bumps and bruises side of things, S Darian Stewart has a hamstring injury and will be day to day. RB Keith Toston has a shoulder sprain but played through it and will likely be OK to go this week. Fullback Mike Karney has a thumb injury that might need to be wrapped but he should be fine as well. DT Gary Gibson had an ankle issue but it wasn’t even serious enough for it to be listed on today’s report.

- As for the game, Spagnuolo made it a point, again, to thank the fans who showed up and created a raucous atmosphere. He also wanted to recognize the staff and players for their work in the game.

- That said, Spagnuolo was also clearly in the mood to move on to the next game and begin preparations for Seattle.

- Although the Rams got the win and did plenty of good things, Spagnuolo cited a few areas he wants to see cleaned up immediately: blocked field goals, penalties and fumbles.

- Spagnuolo, as usual, held himself accountable in saying that he needed to do a better job of clock management at the end of the first half. He was not pleased with himself for burning a timeout too early near the goal line because he wanted to keep the ball out of the hands of Donovan McNabb.

- The Rams will continue to scour for help at running back. They worked out Kevin Jones last week and took a look at Justin Fargas back in the preseason but have not brought anyone in. If Jackson is unable to go, the Rams will need another back to help provide some depth this week. The Rams will have a roster spot as Curry goes to I.R.

- It’s likely that CB Kevin Dockery will be brought back to the fold in the next day or so after he was released late last week.

- What Spagnuolo really wants to see this week is his team handle prosperity. While the victory could very well be great for confidence, it also could work against the Rams. That’s something Spagnuolo warned against on Monday:
“That could go one way or the other. I am hoping the guys handle it right. It’s a little bit of a confidence builder but if we are going to do this thing right, we forget about it and move on to the next game. You’ve heard me say this before after losses but it doesn’t matter whether you win or lose, the approach is exactly the same.”

- Spagnuolo always finds a way to keep it even keel and he expects his team to do the same as they prepare for the Seahawks.

- I mentioned last night that John Greco stepped in at guard at times for Adam Goldberg yesterday and the Rams seemed to have some success running behind him in the second half. Spagnuolo indicated Monday that could well continue this week as the Rams work on developing their depth further.

- That will do it for this week’s version of Wrapping Up. Be sure to get your questions in for tomorrow’s chat where we’ll chop it up about the Rams’ win and what’s to come this week. Thanks for reading.

Total Team Effort Leads to Win

- When the Rams jumped out to a 14-0 first quarter lead and promptly gave it back with a series of miscues in a second quarter in which nearly everything that could go awry did, the instant reaction of many had to be ‘Here we go again.’ But after two weeks of near misses, the Rams had enough of that old feeling and they surged to a win in a second half performance that was by far their most complete and could nearly be described as dominant.

- I’ll get to the particulars of all of that in a moment but let’s hit the injuries first.

- Clearly, the groin injury to RB Steven Jackson is the most concerning. He was pulled apart at the bottom of the pile in a second quarter collision and did not return to the game after testing it at halftime. Early indications are that there is no tear in the groin and that Jackson should be able to recover fairly quickly if that is indeed the case. Jackson will have an MRI to determine its severity in the morning.

- WR Dominique Curry doesn’t appear to be as fortunate. He suffered a knee injury that is believed to be a torn ACL. If that’s the case, he will miss the rest of the season. That hasn’t been determined fully yet and Curry will also be looked at further this evening.

- Safety Oshiomogho Atogwe battled a quad injury all week and it never loosened up though he played early in the game. He came out and did not finish the game. He’ll be monitored day to day.

- RB Keith Toston (shoulder), S Darian Stewart (quad) and DT Gary Gibson (ankle) suffered what appeared to be minor bumps and bruises though more information on those will be available tomorrow.

- As for the game, what can you say? It was like a movie that started with a great action scene, bogged down by bad acting and writing in the middle and ended with a terrific plot twist. After two weeks of near misses, the Rams learned how to win by falling short.

- In some ways, winning in this manner rather than by jumping to a lead and holding on to it will be better for the long term confidence of this football team. Not that beggars can choosers when it comes to winning but finding a way to get it done when things started turning against them could do wonders for a team as young and inexperienced as this one.

- Jackson gave the Rams a huge lift in the first quarter with his touchdown run. A thing of beauty and anyone wondering if his burst is still there shouldn’t wonder anymore.

- Kenneth Darby had his finest career performance and looked quick and decisive in replacing Jackson. What a lift he gave the Rams. And it should be noted that Toston fought for some hard yards as well.

- QB Sam Bradford is growing up right before our eyes. Tremendously poised and confident performance, especially in the second half when Jackson was out of the game. Some terrific throws and he made all of the right decisions.

- What a pickup WR Mark Clayton has been. He just makes play after play after play. It’s early but so far the deal for him looks like nothing less than a steal.

- Danny Amendola might be the toughest player in the league pound for pound. He finds a new way to get hit, spun around or body slammed every week and he pops right back up and makes another play.

- Nice job by TE Daniel Fells as well. He fought for some big extra yards after the catch and did a nice job blocking.

- Which, of course, leads me to my player of the game for this week: the offensive line. That group absolutely took over and imposed its will in the second half. John Greco worked in some at right guard, flopping in and out with Adam Goldberg and he added some punch in the running game. That’s the type of performance of a jelling offensive line.

- On the other side of the ball, it was a total defensive performance. Great work by that entire unit but a few plaudits are in order.

- He hasn’t quite been able to close the deal for a sack by DE Chris Long is regularly getting in the backfield and putting pressure on the quarterback. He did it again on Sunday.

- Cornerbacks Ron Bartell and Bradley Fletcher have been consistently good in coverage. Congrats to Fletcher on his first career interception.

- MLB James Laurinaitis was all over the place. He was a tackling machine as usual and was good in coverage, including a nice pass breakup in the first half.

- Some nice defensive statistics that made a big difference: the Redskins were 1-of-10 on third downs and 0-for-3 in the red zone. The Rams defense held their third straight opponent to 17 points or less. You can win a lot of games in the NFL with that type of production.

- Center Jason Brown awarded the game ball to coach Steve Spagnuolo for sticking with his team through thick and thin. Much deserved for the Rams’ leader.

- That’ll do it for tonight, Rams fans. The team has been given a “Victory Monday” and will be off tomorrow. But we’ll be here to put a bow on this one and wrap it up before moving on to Seattle week preparation. Have a good night and enjoy the win everybody.

Jackson Practices, More Injuries

- The Rams appear to be snakebit right now when it comes to the injury bug. While they entered the season relatively healthy with only safety James Butler on the initial injury report, they took some hits over the weekend against Arizona. Injuries in games are very common in the NFL. But the Rams have taken a couple more blows in practice this week, limiting their depth.

- After losing LB Josh Hull for the season to a torn ACL on Wednesday, the Rams had another knee injury during Thursday’s workout. DT Darell Scott was the recipient this time and it remains to be seen how severe it is. He wrapped it up and was able to walk off under his own power. Will update when any new information comes along.

- Defensive tackle Clifton Ryan also did not practice after falling ill last night. Ryan went to the hospital and stayed overnight after feeling quesy earlier in the night. He was undergoing a battery of tests on Thursday. Like Scott, I’ll post another update when more information becomes available.

- As for the rest of the injury list, things remained about the same. Cornerback Kevin Dockery (hamstring) did not practice. Fellow corner Justin King was limited to individual work and did not participate in team drills.

- On the bright side, the Rams got a couple of players back in the workout. Running back Steven Jackson returned to practice as did receiver Laurent Robinson. Robinson was a bit limited but coach Steve Spagnuolo said he appeared to be pretty close to full strength.

- As far as the roster, the Rams made a couple of tweaks official. Linebacker Bryan Kehl was officially added to the roster after the team claimed him off waivers from the Giants. He’s wearing No. 50.

- Defensive tackle Jermelle Cudjo was brought back to the practice squad after he was released earlier in the week to make room for TE Darcy Johnson. The Rams released LB Mortty Ivy to make room for Cudjo. Of course, depending on the severity of Scott’s knee injury and Ryan’s illness, Cudjo could well be back up with the varsity before the weekend.

- With the injury situation as it is, here’s how the Rams break down at positions where those ailments have hit the hardest…
LB: James Laurinaitis, Na’il Diggs, Larry Grant, David Vobora, Bryan Kehl. All five are healthy with Hull on injured reserve and Chris Chamberlain out six to eight weeks.
CB: Ron Bartell, Bradley Fletcher, Jerome Murphy. Those three are fine with King and Dockery nursing hamstring injuries. The Rams are hopeful King will be ready for Sunday.
TE: Daniel Fells, Billy Bajema, Fendi Onobun, Darcy Johnson. Those four are good to go with Michael Hoomanawanui out six to eight weeks with a high ankle sprain. Onobun isn’t likely to be active this week as Spagnuolo says he still has a ways to go to be ready.

- Clearly, some more roster tweaks could be in the offing depending on how guys come along for injury. I’ll try to update Ryan and Scott’s status this evening. Thanks for checking in.

Rams Begin Oakland Prep

- The Rams got back on the practice field Wednesday afternoon with a two-plus hour workout as they begin the process of preparing to play Oakland on Sunday at the Oakland Coliseum.

- First, a bit of business as the Rams made some roster moves late Tuesday, shuffling the practice squad and providing some depth at tight end.

- The Rams released DT Jermelle Cudjo and brought back tight end Darcy Johnson, who was with the team in training camp. Johnson was back on the practice field in his customary No. 87 on Wednesday afternoon. Cudjo is a candidate to go to the practice squad upon clearing waivers.

- Speaking of the practice squad, the Rams released RB Allen Patrick and WR Brandon McRae and brought in LB/FB Britt Miller and FB/TE Jamie McCoy. Clearly, the Rams are searching for insurance because of the injuries to TE Michael Hoomanawanui and LB Chris Chamberlain.

- Local fans might be familiar with Miller, who played his college ball at Illinois. He has been converted to a fullback but also can play linebacker and special teams as he did last year in San Francisco.

- No decision has been made yet on Chamberlain, who has a fractured toe and is expected to miss six to eight weeks. It’s possible he could still go on injured reserve but nothing appears imminent. Hoomanawanui is also expected to be out six to eight weeks.

- Wednesday’s practice represented a major shift in player participation as injuries hit the Rams fairly hard over the weekend. RB Steven Jackson (knee), WR Laurent Robinson (ankle), Hoomanawanui (ankle), Chamberlain (toe), CB Kevin Dockery (hamstring) and CB Justin King (hamstring) didn’t participate in the practice. Jackson and Robinson are expected to be OK but are being monitored on a day to day basis. Dockery isn’t likely to be ready to go but King still could bounce back.

- Additionally, LB Josh Hull suffered an MCL injury early in practice. He was on crutches with a brace afterward and Spagnuolo said he could miss some extended time.

- Clearly, the Rams will need to find some linebacker depth from somewhere in the next day or so.

- DT Fred Robbins has a lower leg injury and was limited. He’s expected to be fine.

- As for the work on the field, Brandon Gibson got more work with Robinson out as Amendola jumped into the slot. Spagnuolo says Gibson is making strides but will need to be a contributor on special teams to get a more regular role.

- Speaking of special teams, the three specialists – Josh Brown, Donnie Jones and Chris Massey – went to a local field to practice kicking on dirt because that’s what they’ll work on in Oakland.

- Spagnuolo said his team came out “hungry” on Wednesday but called the practice a bit sluggish.

- Spagnuolo also said that Amendola will continue his heavy workload but that Mardy Gilyard will continue working on kick returns.

- That’s it for today. Thanks for reading.

Rams Break Camp, Ready for Patriots

- The Rams brought the training camp portion of their schedule to an end Tuesday as they completed their final practice of this camp around 4:15.

- Coach Steve Spagnuolo rewarded one fan for his loyalty and persistent presence at the training camp practices, bringing the man they call “Coach” Jerry out of the stands to break down the huddle. Coach did so with his traditional “Get Low and Stick ‘Em” as the players joined him in his familiar refrain.

- And with that, the actual camp portion of the preseason is over. It was 27 practices and nearly a month of work but now the Rams will start focusing on getting into a regular season schedule. While there is still some work to do before an actual game week, things will settle in terms of meetings and the team will have more regular hours.

- On the injury front, the only addition Tuesday was for tackle Phil Trautwein. A teammate fell on his knee during the workout and he was unable to finish the practice. Trautwein had an MRI on Tuesday afternoon.

- Tight end Daniel Fells (hyperextended knee) and receiver Mardy Gilyard (illness) also were held out but are expected to travel with the team to New England.

- Spagnuolo said the first team offense would play the first half, including quarterback Sam Bradford. Running back Steven Jackson will likely be limited to a couple, maybe three series before calling it a night. Spagnuolo said it’s possible the first team could go into the third quarter depending on how many snaps each side gets in the first half.

- That will do it for today. Back tomorrow with a look at the Patriots. Tomorrow is a travel day leading into Thursday’s game. The Rams are back to practice on Saturday.

- Special thanks to all the fans who made it out to the Russell Training Center to watch practice and those that took the time to say hello. Hope to see you again down the line.