Rams get good news on other injuries/Wagoner

Rams get good news on other injuries
By Nick Wagoner

http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/10910/rams-get-good-news-on-other-injuries

EARTH CITY, Mo. — Lost in the rubble of St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford season ending ACL injury Sunday evening was the relatively good news the team got on four other injured starters.

Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson, defensive tackles Kendall Langford and Michael Brockers and offensive lineman Rodger Saffold all left Saturday night’s preseason game against the Cleveland Browns with injuries and uncertain statuses moving forward when they did not return. But Rams coach Jeff Fisher was at least able to offer a positive outlook on that quartet before confirming Bradford’s injury.

Of the four, Johnson’s knee injury looked the worst when it happened. After taking a helmet to the knee, Johnson had to be taken off on a cart. Of all the injuries suffered in that half, Bradford’s included, Johnson seemed the most likely candidate to miss extended time. But where further tests revealed Bradford’s was worse than first feared, the additional exams worked in Johnson’s favor.

“We got good news considering the mechanism of what happened to Trumaine Johnson,” Fisher said. “We’ll miss Trumaine anywhere from four to six weeks with an MCL sprain.”

The news was even better in the case of Saffold, Langford and Brockers. All three left with ankle injuries though Saffold’s looked the worst after a player rolled up on his leg. But Fisher said the damage was minimal and the trio might even be ready to go this week.

“I can report on three of them who we got good results back,” Fisher said. “Michael Brockers, Kendall Langford and Rodger Saffold could potentially play this Thursday night in the fourth preseason game at Miami.”

The Rams may take a cautious approach with those three considering, but all three have missed time in camp and might need the reps before the regular season starts.

As for Johnson, the Rams have a few options to take his place, but none of them has proven much of anything in the NFL. Fisher listed rookies E.J. Gaines and Lamarcus Joyner as options as well as second-year corner Brandon McGee. Obviously, McGee has the most experience of the three though most of that is limited to special teams and one rough outing against Chicago in week 12 last season.

McGee has also been dealing with an ankle injury during the preseason and the Rams would probably prefer to keep Joyner in the slot as the primary nickelback. That could leave the door open for Gaines, who has impressed in camp and the preseason with his tenacity and physical approach.

Fisher wouldn’t tip his hand Sunday but will have to offer at least a glimpse of the plans in the preseason finale Thursday night.

“E.J. has come on,” Fisher said. “And Brandon McGee from last year missed this game with an ankle, he should be back. We’ll be OK there until Tru comes back. Lamarcus is making plays, he played there last night and inside. We’ve got a good, solid group there.”