- Joined
- Jul 31, 2010
- Messages
- 8,874
Rams could be thin at cornerback Sunday
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/12979/rams-could-be-thin-at-cornerback-sunday
EARTH CITY, Mo. -- The St. Louis Rams' injury report is a lengthy one, but there's good news and bad news to be found.
The good news is that of the 12 players on the list, eight are probably to play Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs.
The bad news is that of the four who are listed as questionable or worse on the injury report, three of them play the same position. That position is cornerback where Brandon McGee has been ruled out for this week after re-injuring his foot in Thursday's practice. Janoris Jenkins and Trumaine Johnson, both of whom are coming back from knee injuries, are listed as questionable.
Based on practice participation, Johnson would seem the more likely candidate of the two to play against the Chiefs. He got back to work and did at least something in every day of practice this week. Jenkins did not practice at all.
Even if Johnson is able to go, it seems unlikely that he'll be ready to step in and start or play an extended period. If that's the case and Jenkins is unavailable, the Rams will turn to rookie Marcus Roberson to make his first NFL start.
Roberson filled in for Jenkins when Jenkins left last week's game against Seattle and handled himself well, according to coach Jeff Fisher.
“Marcus came in, had a couple tackles," Fisher said. "He knows what to do. He’s doing well on special teams. It’s interesting, at one point against the world champs, we had three rookies in the secondary. They hung there. He’s a good, solid backup [who's] ready to play, that’s important. It’s the hardest thing to do, is to prepare and be ready to play. But, he was fine.”
If indeed Roberson gets another opportunity, the Rams will likely again find themselves in a situation with three rookies on the field. E.J. Gaines will start on one side regardless of injury, and Lamarcus Joyner remains the team's primary nickel corner.
If the Rams can't turn to Johnson to help and really get put in a tough spot, they could also tweak things to bring Rodney McLeod up to help at corner with Cody Davis entering at safety.
Either way, the Rams are heading into the game in a precarious spot at cornerback.
Here's the full Friday injury report:
Out: C Tim Barnes (shoulder), CB Brandon McGee (foot)
Questionable: CB Janoris Jenkins (knee), CB Trumaine Johnson (knee)
Probable: K Greg Zuerlein (illness), S T.J. McDonald (concussion), RB Benny Cunningham (knee), LB Jo-Lonn Dunbar (toe), G Rodger Saffold (knee), WR Kenny Britt (ankle), DE Ethan Westbrooks (hand), DE William Hayes (illness)
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/12979/rams-could-be-thin-at-cornerback-sunday
EARTH CITY, Mo. -- The St. Louis Rams' injury report is a lengthy one, but there's good news and bad news to be found.
The good news is that of the 12 players on the list, eight are probably to play Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs.
The bad news is that of the four who are listed as questionable or worse on the injury report, three of them play the same position. That position is cornerback where Brandon McGee has been ruled out for this week after re-injuring his foot in Thursday's practice. Janoris Jenkins and Trumaine Johnson, both of whom are coming back from knee injuries, are listed as questionable.
Based on practice participation, Johnson would seem the more likely candidate of the two to play against the Chiefs. He got back to work and did at least something in every day of practice this week. Jenkins did not practice at all.
Even if Johnson is able to go, it seems unlikely that he'll be ready to step in and start or play an extended period. If that's the case and Jenkins is unavailable, the Rams will turn to rookie Marcus Roberson to make his first NFL start.
Roberson filled in for Jenkins when Jenkins left last week's game against Seattle and handled himself well, according to coach Jeff Fisher.
“Marcus came in, had a couple tackles," Fisher said. "He knows what to do. He’s doing well on special teams. It’s interesting, at one point against the world champs, we had three rookies in the secondary. They hung there. He’s a good, solid backup [who's] ready to play, that’s important. It’s the hardest thing to do, is to prepare and be ready to play. But, he was fine.”
If indeed Roberson gets another opportunity, the Rams will likely again find themselves in a situation with three rookies on the field. E.J. Gaines will start on one side regardless of injury, and Lamarcus Joyner remains the team's primary nickel corner.
If the Rams can't turn to Johnson to help and really get put in a tough spot, they could also tweak things to bring Rodney McLeod up to help at corner with Cody Davis entering at safety.
Either way, the Rams are heading into the game in a precarious spot at cornerback.
Here's the full Friday injury report:
Out: C Tim Barnes (shoulder), CB Brandon McGee (foot)
Questionable: CB Janoris Jenkins (knee), CB Trumaine Johnson (knee)
Probable: K Greg Zuerlein (illness), S T.J. McDonald (concussion), RB Benny Cunningham (knee), LB Jo-Lonn Dunbar (toe), G Rodger Saffold (knee), WR Kenny Britt (ankle), DE Ethan Westbrooks (hand), DE William Hayes (illness)
