Rams Monday Wrap-Up: Injury Updates

[RamBill]

Monday Wrap-Up: Injury Updates

By Myles Simmons

View: http://www.stlouisrams.com/news-and-events/article-1/Monday-Wrap-Up-Injury-Updates/3517b29f-e2ae-40bc-b5ca-e947f2f4c29f


A number of Rams have gone down in the past few weeks, and head coach Jeff Fisher addressed a few of them in his Monday press conference.

OFFENSIVE LINE

Donnal started at right tackle for Sunday’s contest, suffering a knee injury. Though the team was concerned it was an ACL last night, Fisher said the team received word that it is instead an MCL sprain. The injury will keep Donnal out for a few weeks, but the offensive lineman will not have to go through the long rehab process that comes with a torn ACL.

“That’s certainly good news considering where we thought this was going last night,” Fisher said. “You’re talking about eight-to-10 months … from a rehab standpoint. That’s not going to be the case. He’s going to be OK.”

With Donnal out, Fisher said the team will likely continue with Garrett Reynolds at right tackle, as Rob Havenstein is still sidelined by a calf injury.

“Garrett’s played three different positions on our offensive line, and he’s playing them well,” Fisher said. “He’s a real pro. He’s helping the young guys. We’re real proud of him.”

Cody Wichmann started at right guard next to Donnal, but moved over to the left once the tackle went out. Demetrius Rhaney substituted in at right guard in that situation as well.

“Initially I was a little concerned about Demetrius, but when you watch the tape he got it done,” Fisher said. “Those guys are big inside, and they’re penetrators. He gave up a play, but he battled in there.”

“And Cody battled as well,” Fisher continued. “Cody’s going to be a good player. This is his first opportunity against a good team.”

CORNERBACK

Trumaine Johnson suffered a quad injury while returning an interception off of quarterback Joe Flacco on Sunday. Fisher said the club also got fairly good news on the cornerback.

“We’re hopeful for Trumaine,” Fisher said of the quad injury. “It’s not significant.”

QUARTERBACK

As for Case Keenum, Fisher said the quarterback is feeling much better after sustaining a concussion late in the game against the Ravens.

“Fortunately, Case felt really good this morning,” Fisher said. “He’s in the [concussion] protocol. He feels good. He’s got a chance to practice this week and, obviously, play this weekend.”

If Keenum is unable to play on Sunday, quarterback Nick Foles would take his place in the starting lineup.

 

[Legatron4]

I'm so sick of hearing Fisher talking about how good our Oline looks.

 

[fearsomefour]

Yeah, they battled....everyone tried real hard....got it....so, Fish, whats the problem?

 

[RamBill]

Insider Myles Simmons breaks down head coach Jeff Fisher’s Monday press conference.

Watch Simmons Break Down Fisher's Presser

 

[rdlkgliders]

I battled traffic today, tried real hard but still got to work late.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

I battled traffic today, tried real hard but still got to work late.

LOL great analogy

 

[ramsince62]

I battled traffic today, tried real hard but still got to work late.

I'm sure you'll "fix that."

 

[wmc540]

So at this point it has to be viewed as official that Keenum suffered a concussion.

 

[RamBill]

Rams notes: Mason, Battle missed team bus, sat out game
• By Joe Lyons

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_2fcaa77b-9e9f-58fb-a104-e2baee54c6fe.html

Meeting with reporters Monday in Earth City, Rams coach Jeff Fisher confirmed that second-year running back Tre Mason and rookie tackle Isaiah Battle missed the team bus from Rams Park to the airport Saturday and suffered the consequences Sunday.

“Isaiah and Tre were de-activated yesterday for violating club rules,’’ the coach pointed out. “They missed the team bus. So those are the rules. Fifty-one other guys made the bus, so they didn’t play.’’

Mason, who led the Rams last year as a rookie with 765 rushing yards and five touchdowns, has struggled to recapture that success this season as a complement to rookie sensation Todd Gurley. Mason, who missed the season opener with a hamstring injury, has played in seven games and made a pair of starts. He’s rushed for 129 yards on 44 carries — 2.9 per attempt — has six catches for 37 yards and has yet to find the end zone in 2015.

“Well, I’m just disappointed that he missed the bus for whatever reason,’’ Fisher said. “He’s going to play this week, he’s had a couple (of) good weeks of practice, he’s healthy and he’s going to play this week.’’

After missing the bus, the players “made it before we took off and we didn’t wait for them,’’ Fisher said.

Battle, a rookie out of Clemson who was selected in the the supplemental draft in early July, was promoted to the active roster on Monday last week after fellow rookie offensive linemen Jamon Brown (broken leg) and Darrell Williams (dislocated wrist) suffered season-ending injuries the day before in a loss to Chicago.

With their first supplemental choice since arriving in St. Louis, the Rams surrendered a fifth-round pick in the 2016 draft for the young and raw 6-foot-7, 290-pound Battle.

It’s unclear if Battle would have been among the 46 active players Sunday in Baltimore if he had not broken club rules. On Sunday, when rookie tackle Andrew Donnal was hurt early in the second quarter, Fisher opted to move veteran Garrett Reynolds from left guard to right tackle, shift rookie Cody Wichmann from right to left guard and insert second-year pro Demetrius Rhaney at right guard.

Even if Battle were active, “I still would have moved Garrett,’’ Fisher said Monday. “And that’s kind of where we’re leaning this week with Garrett. Garrett’s played three different positions (right guard, left guard and right tackle) along our offensive line and he’s played them well. He’s a real pro. He’s helping the young guys. I’m real proud of him..’

Fisher also liked what he saw of Wichmann, a sixth-round draft choice from Fresno State making his first start, and Rhaney, a second-year pro from Tennessee State who spent his rookie campaign on injured reserve. Rhaney, a seventh-round draft pick in 2014, has played in 10 games this season, mostly on special teams.

“Initially, I was a little concerned about Demetrius, but when you watch the tape, he got it done,’’ Fisher said. Baltimore is “big inside and they’re penetrators. He gave up a play, but he battled in there. Cody battled as well. Cody’s going to be a good player. This is his first opportunity against a good team (and he had) a couple issues on the second level that he didn’t get to.

“But we have to run the football better. We’re working on that right now. ... We have do do some different things in the run game.’’

GOOD NEWS ON DONNAL

Fearing the worst after Donnal, the team’s fourth-round draft choice out of Iowa, went down with a knee injury Sunday, Fisher received good news from team doctors Monday morning.

“He does not have an ACL tear. He’s dealing with a somewhat significant MCL sprain,’’ the coach said. “He’ll be out a couple of weeks, but that certainly is good news considering where we thought this was going last night. You’re talking about eight to 10 months or whatever it is from a rehab standpoint and that’s not going to be the case. He’s going to be OK.’’

Fisher also noted that cornerback Trumaine Johnson, who suffered a quad injury on the return after picking off a Joe Flacco pass in the third quarter, should not miss a lot of time.

“Trumaine left the game with a quad injury, but it’s not significant,’’ the coach said.

DONALD STANDS OUT AGAIN

Second-year defensive tackle Aaron Donald provided another stellar effort, finishing with 10 tackles, including five solos and three for loss. He recorded the Rams’ lone sack and also led the squad with five quarterback pressures and a quarterback hit.

Other top tacklers from the coaches review of the film were safety Rodney McLeod (12), linebacker James Laurinaitis (11), linebacker-safety Mark Barron (11) and rookie defensive end Matt Longacre (10).

McLeod and Johnson had interceptions in the loss.

RAM-BLINGS

Linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar, who was with the Rams briefly this season after playing regularly for the club from 2012 through 2014, was waived by the New Orleans Saints on Monday.

• Defensive end Kourtnei Brown, who was on the Rams’ practice squad in 2014 and who was featured during HBO’s Hard Knocks with the Houston Texans in the preseason, was claimed off waivers by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday after being waived by Houston over the weekend.

 

[RamzFanz]

I wanted to bang the wife, had some issues, tried real hard, she played good ball though, we're gonna fix that. Not things we can't fix in practise. We just have to make some plays...

...shit, she says I have to delete this post and get real on a week when she's traveled to 3 states and worked 66 hours...

I gotta stop doing post game Fisher commentaries. They aren't working with her.

 

[RamzFanz]

Trumaine Johnson suffered a quad injury while returning an interception off of quarterback Joe Flacco on Sunday. Fisher said the club also got fairly good news on the cornerback.

Would that have been the first pick six of the season? Are the Rams fucking snake bit or what?

 

[RAGRam]

QUARTERBACK

As for Case Keenum, Fisher said the quarterback is feeling much better after sustaining a concussion late in the game against the Ravens.

Could have sworn someone said he wasn't concussed?