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Monday Wrap-Up: Positive News on Injury Front
By Myles Simmons
View: http://www.stlouisrams.com/news-and-events/article-1/Monday-Wrap-Up-Positive-News-on-Injury-Front/5ea4e624-d0b6-4c6b-985a-1a1f301bd9a8
Though two Rams suffered injuries and did not return on Sunday at Green Bay, head coach Jeff Fisher said Monday afternoon he doesn’t necessarily expect either to miss significant time.
The head coach said there was good news on defensive end Chris Long, who suffered a knee injury.
“It’s not an ACL or an MCL, so it’s good,” Fisher said. “We feared the worst last night.”
Though Long hyperextended his knee, he avoided severing any ligaments within it. That is why he should be back on the field sooner than later, with Fisher saying Long’s status will be week-to-week.
Rodger Saffold re-injured his right shoulder, which he also had trouble with during the preseason. That shoulder, however, is not the one he had surgically repaired in the offseason. With the bye week, there’s a chance Saffold may not miss any game time, but the team is still doing some more work to confirm that’s true.
“We still need to do some more tests,” Fisher said. “But right now, he’d probably be ‘questionable’ for Cleveland.”
As for linebacker Alec Ogletree, Fisher said the Rams are still going through the process to determine whether or not to put him on injured reserve with a designation to return.
“He’s got a significant injury and he’s going to miss some time,” Fisher said. “We have a feel for how long the injury and when the return to practice and return to play date is. We’re going to wait to see if we need to use that designation for somebody else.”
‘EVERYONE HAS TO HELP THE QUARTERBACK’
There were a myriad of factors for the Rams struggling to move the ball through the air on Sunday, and that’s why Fisher said there has to be universal improvement.
“Our issues right now are related to the passing game and getting off to a quicker start,” Fisher said. “Everyone around Nick [Foles] has to play better, so we can play better in the passing game.”
One of the biggest issues is getting chunks of yardage on first and second down. The Rams went 5-of-18 on third down against the Packers, which Fisher said was too many third-down situations.
“As we talked as a staff, it’s first-down offense, it’s second-down offense, and it’s third-down offense. And like I’ve been saying, our first- and second-down offense has to get better,” Fisher said. “Eighteen third-down attempts is not good, so we’ve got to bring that number down.”
But what should help the passing game going forward is how well the Rams are running the ball. Todd Gurley tallied 30 carries for 159 yards on Sunday, giving him 305 yards rushing over his last two contests.
“[Averaging] 150 yards over the last two weeks is the sweet spot for me,” Fisher said.
Still, Fisher would like to increase Tre Mason’s opportunities.
“We wanted to get Tre in more, it just didn’t happen,” Fisher said. “He will play more. I think 30 carries a game down the stretch is probably a little much for [Gurley]. He’ll probably be one of those guys that get some rest this week.”
FORCING TURNOVERS
Though the Rams fell 24-10 on Sunday, the defense did accomplish a significant feat in forcing three Aaron Rodgers turnovers -- a James Laurinaitis interception, Trumaine Johnson pick, and Robert Quinn sack/fumble. Until the contest, Rodgers had never committed three giveaways at Lambeau Field.
“They expected to. They said, ‘Let’s be the first team that goes in there and gets that first pick,’” Fisher said. “You know with Aaron that you have to make a great play on the ball, which Trumaine did, or you have to get your hand on the ball and someone needs to catch the deflection. Then of course Rob had a great rush. They didn’t chip on him and Rob got a great take off and got the ball out.”
ROSTER MOVE
The Rams waived running back Trey Watts on Monday. After returning from a four-game suspension, Watts had his one-week roster exemption expire on Monday. But even though he won’t be on the active roster, Fisher said the club wants Watts in the fold.
“We’ll release him and we have every intention to bring him back to practice squad tomorrow,” Fisher said.
By Myles Simmons
View: http://www.stlouisrams.com/news-and-events/article-1/Monday-Wrap-Up-Positive-News-on-Injury-Front/5ea4e624-d0b6-4c6b-985a-1a1f301bd9a8
Though two Rams suffered injuries and did not return on Sunday at Green Bay, head coach Jeff Fisher said Monday afternoon he doesn’t necessarily expect either to miss significant time.
The head coach said there was good news on defensive end Chris Long, who suffered a knee injury.
“It’s not an ACL or an MCL, so it’s good,” Fisher said. “We feared the worst last night.”
Though Long hyperextended his knee, he avoided severing any ligaments within it. That is why he should be back on the field sooner than later, with Fisher saying Long’s status will be week-to-week.
Rodger Saffold re-injured his right shoulder, which he also had trouble with during the preseason. That shoulder, however, is not the one he had surgically repaired in the offseason. With the bye week, there’s a chance Saffold may not miss any game time, but the team is still doing some more work to confirm that’s true.
“We still need to do some more tests,” Fisher said. “But right now, he’d probably be ‘questionable’ for Cleveland.”
As for linebacker Alec Ogletree, Fisher said the Rams are still going through the process to determine whether or not to put him on injured reserve with a designation to return.
“He’s got a significant injury and he’s going to miss some time,” Fisher said. “We have a feel for how long the injury and when the return to practice and return to play date is. We’re going to wait to see if we need to use that designation for somebody else.”
‘EVERYONE HAS TO HELP THE QUARTERBACK’
There were a myriad of factors for the Rams struggling to move the ball through the air on Sunday, and that’s why Fisher said there has to be universal improvement.
“Our issues right now are related to the passing game and getting off to a quicker start,” Fisher said. “Everyone around Nick [Foles] has to play better, so we can play better in the passing game.”
One of the biggest issues is getting chunks of yardage on first and second down. The Rams went 5-of-18 on third down against the Packers, which Fisher said was too many third-down situations.
“As we talked as a staff, it’s first-down offense, it’s second-down offense, and it’s third-down offense. And like I’ve been saying, our first- and second-down offense has to get better,” Fisher said. “Eighteen third-down attempts is not good, so we’ve got to bring that number down.”
But what should help the passing game going forward is how well the Rams are running the ball. Todd Gurley tallied 30 carries for 159 yards on Sunday, giving him 305 yards rushing over his last two contests.
“[Averaging] 150 yards over the last two weeks is the sweet spot for me,” Fisher said.
Still, Fisher would like to increase Tre Mason’s opportunities.
“We wanted to get Tre in more, it just didn’t happen,” Fisher said. “He will play more. I think 30 carries a game down the stretch is probably a little much for [Gurley]. He’ll probably be one of those guys that get some rest this week.”
FORCING TURNOVERS
Though the Rams fell 24-10 on Sunday, the defense did accomplish a significant feat in forcing three Aaron Rodgers turnovers -- a James Laurinaitis interception, Trumaine Johnson pick, and Robert Quinn sack/fumble. Until the contest, Rodgers had never committed three giveaways at Lambeau Field.
“They expected to. They said, ‘Let’s be the first team that goes in there and gets that first pick,’” Fisher said. “You know with Aaron that you have to make a great play on the ball, which Trumaine did, or you have to get your hand on the ball and someone needs to catch the deflection. Then of course Rob had a great rush. They didn’t chip on him and Rob got a great take off and got the ball out.”
ROSTER MOVE
The Rams waived running back Trey Watts on Monday. After returning from a four-game suspension, Watts had his one-week roster exemption expire on Monday. But even though he won’t be on the active roster, Fisher said the club wants Watts in the fold.
“We’ll release him and we have every intention to bring him back to practice squad tomorrow,” Fisher said.
