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October 2, 2015 at 6:34 pm #31579
znModeratorRams receiver Brian Quick set to make season debut
Nick Wagoner, ESPN Staff Writer
EARTH CITY, Mo. — The St. Louis Rams offered an answer to the most-asked question about one of their players last week when they made running back Todd Gurley active for his first NFL game.
No sooner had those questions dried up when the focus quickly turned to when receiver Brian Quick would make his 2015 season debut after returning from a serious shoulder injury.
Unlike with Gurley, coach Jeff Fisher left no doubt when asked about Quick on Friday.
“[He] had a great week, I hope it carries over into the game,” Fisher said.
Asked if that meant Quick would be active this week, Fisher repeated himself.
“I hope it carries over into the game,” Fisher said, a smile creeping across his face.
In other words, there won’t be some pregame workout in which coaches monitor Quick or any charades about game-time decisions. Instead, Quick, nearly a year after suffering the shoulder injury that cost him the final half of the 2014 season, will be up and playing on Sunday.
Quick said he had a good idea that this was his time earlier in the week when he started getting some reps with the first-team offense. It was hard to decipher at the time whether that was a function of Quick being elevated, receiver Kenny Britt’s absence because of a shoulder injury or something in between.
But with Britt back in practice Friday, Quick continued to get the reps and was clearly excited about making his return.
“[It’s been] a long time coming,” Quick said. “I’m just ready to go out there and take advantage of the opportunity I have.”
Quick’s absence in the first three weeks has brought persistent questions about his status. Was he not fully healed? If he wasn’t fully healed, why wasn’t he on the injury report? Conspiracy theorists even wondered if he’d done something to get in trouble.
To hear Quick tell it, though, it was simply a matter of getting back up to speed both physically and mentally during the past year. By his own admission, Quick missed valuable time last season and then didn’t get to participate in organized team activities in the spring. Even when he returned with some limitations in training camp, he found himself playing catch up as he returned to an offense with a new coordinator in Frank Cignetti.
On Friday, Quick wouldn’t point to one issue that kept him inactive the first three weeks of the season but said it was all-encompassing.
“It was everything, period,” Quick said. “Just getting back to the speed that I need to get back to. I’m still working.”
Quick spent the first three weeks of practice working with the scout team almost exclusively, but he started ratcheting up the work with starters this week without Britt. Fisher took notice of how well Quick did when he stepped in.
“And he stepped right in there and literally was flawless with his reps,” Fisher said. “He knows exactly what to do.”
How much or what, exactly, Quick’s role will be Sunday against Arizona remains to be seen. Like with Gurley and the run game last week, it’s wise not to expect Quick to be some sort of panacea for a struggling offense.
But it can’t hurt to have Quick back, either. He was the team’s leading receiver when he got hurt last year and is a solid blocker on the outside in the run game. And the one benefit of not playing in the first three weeks is that he has fresh legs going into a game against a strong secondary.
As for his nerves, Quick doesn’t think he’ll have butterflies as the game approaches.
“I’m going to take the same approach I always do as far as staying calm and staying focused,” Quick said. “As an offense, you have to be calm and just do the little things right. It’s about details. You can’t go out there and bust assignments and do the wrong thing. You have to be calm and take care of your business.”
October 2, 2015 at 8:54 pm #31582
wvParticipantOne would think, the OC would give Quick
some early, easy, routes/catches.He seems like the kind of guy
that needs to have his confidence
built up.w
vOctober 2, 2015 at 9:19 pm #31583
canadaramParticipantYay! I hope that he’s ready to fight for some 50/50 balls.
October 2, 2015 at 10:06 pm #31585znModeratorPractice Report 10/2: Quick Set to Return
Myles Simmons
It’s been a long road back from a serious shoulder injury for wide receiver Brian Quick, and all indications are that he will be on the field when the Rams take on the Cardinals in Arizona.
“Had a great week of practice,” head coach Jeff Fisher said of Quick. “I hope it carries over into the game.”
“I’m really excited, man,” Quick said after Friday’s session. “I can’t wait to get out there with my brothers and try to get this win.”
Quick has been a healthy scratch for the first three games of the season, but his injury was a factor for why he was not in. Because of the shoulder, Quick was not able to fully participate in much of the Rams’ offseason program. The wide receiver said part of making his way back was simply catching up with the new elements in the offense.
“It was just everything, period,” Quick said. “Just getting back to the speed that I needed to get back into. So I’m still working, and any opportunity that I get, I’m ready for.”
Quick said one of the indications he had a good chance to play against the Cardinals was his increased practice reps.
“There are certain things that you just have to prepare for, going into the week,” Quick said. “So when the coaches put you out there, you have to be ready for anything.”
One factor for the practice time was Kenny Britt sitting out earlier in the week due to a minor shoulder injury. While Britt is listed as probable to play Sunday, Fisher said Quick was impressive in Britt’s stead.
“He stepped right in there and literally was flawless with his reps,” Fisher said. “He knows exactly what to do.”
Though Quick had not been playing, he said he’s spent time with the entire offense developing chemistry with quarterback Nick Foles.
“Reps after practice, us going in the meeting room together as a unit — those are the little things that separate offenses and different players, just to have that chemistry together as one,” Quick said. “We’ve all been meeting and doing the extra things we needed to do.”
And last week, Foles said he’s seen plenty of potential from the 6-foot-3 wideout.
“The sky is the limit for that guy,” Foles said. “So talented, such a big receiver. His ball skills are among the best I’ve seen, just how he goes up and gets it.”
“When he gets out there, it’ll be exciting,” the quarterback added.
Given how hard and how long Quick has been working hard to be an active player on gameday, it wasn’t much of a surprise when he admitted Friday it was sometimes tough to sit and watch.
“You’re out here working every day and you see your brothers out there fighting, going out there giving it everything they have,” Quick said. “You want to go out there and do the same thing with them.”
And now that he will be able to do just that, Quick doesn’t need a moment to look back at all he’s overcome to get back to this point.
“I let it sink in every day — every day I’m out here,” Quick said. “Once you get a chance to even sit on the sideline, to even be out here, be in this locker room — you’ve got to take advantage of it and love everything that you do. So I just take that approach every day.”
INJURY REPORT
The Rams have six players listed on their injury report for Sunday’s contest.
Wide receiver Kenny Britt (shoulder) returned to practice Friday with full participation and is listed as probable. Linebacker James Laurinaitis (not injury related) is also listed as probable after having Tuesday and Wednesday off. Running back Benny Cunningham (knee) was added to the injury report Friday, but is listed as probable.
Running back Chase Reynolds (knee) did not practice all week, but is listed as doubtful. Defensive end Eugene Sims (knee) and safety Maurice Alexander (groin) have both been declared out for Sunday’s contest.
ROSTER MOVES
The Rams made a few corresponding roster moves to solidify the roster in preparation for Sunday.
Given the absence of Alexander, the Rams promoted safety Christian Bryant from the practice squad to the active roster.
“I think he’s got a chance to be active and help us on special teams,” Fisher said. “We’ve designated Maurice Alexander as ‘out’, so ‘CB’ can fill in for him till he comes back.”
The Rams selected Bryant in the seventh round out of Ohio State in the 2014 draft. The Cleveland, Ohio native spent last season on St. Louis’ practice squad.
“Christian was their Defensive MVP before he got hurt there at Ohio State,” Fisher said. “He’s one of those classic examples of what a difference a year makes. So, had a really good preseason. I’ve got all the confidence in the world that he’ll go out there and do the right things.”
To make room for Bryant on the active roster, the Rams cut cornerback Brandon McGee. The club also added cornerback Eric Patterson to replace Bryant on the practice squad. Patterson is an undrafted rookie out of Ball State, who spent the early portion of the offseason with the Patriots before going between the active roster and practice squad of the Colts. Indianapolis waived Patterson earlier this week.
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