reporters set up the Chiefs game (including: Mason out)

Rams notes: With sore hamstring, Mason won’t play vs. Chiefs

Joe Lyons

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/rams-notes-with-sore-hamstring-mason-won-t-play-vs/article_de36978f-bb73-5236-9da6-cdaa8f5d7e8b.html

Rams running back Tre Mason, the likely opening-day starter with first-round draft pick Todd Gurley being brought along slowly, left Saturday night’s 24-14 loss to the Indianapolis Colts with a hamstring injury.

At a meeting with reporters Sunday afternoon at Rams Park, coach Jeff Fisher said that Mason would not play in Thursday’s preseason finale against the Kansas City Chiefs at the Edward Jones Dome and the the second-year pro “will probably be questionable’’ for the regular-season opener against the visiting Seattle Seahawks on Sept. 13.

“He pulled up a little bit; he felt it so he shut it down on the play,’’ Fisher said. “We will probably hold him out, depending on how he responds the next couple of days. … He’s a quick healer, so we’re optimistic.’’

Before the injury, Mason rushed four times for 12 yards and also caught a pair of passes for 19 yards. As a rookie last year, he sat out the first four games of the season but came on to make nine starts and rush for a team-leading 765 yards while averaging 4.3 yards a carry. He also caught 16 passes for 148 yards and scored five touchdowns.

Fisher also said that another of the team’s Auburn products, third-year linebacker and special teams leader Daren Bates, will not play Thursday and is also expected to be questionable for Seattle. Bates suffered a knee injury in the preseason opener at Oakland.

Fisher said guard Rodger Saffold was “close’’ and could return to practice this week.

Asked about Gurley, Fisher quipped: “He’s probably a step … a day closer than he was yesterday.’’