FAULK out 4-6 weeks...

[PLANT]

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- It may be November before Marshall Faulk lines up again for the St. Louis Rams.

That's just the latest piece of bad news for a team that has grown accustomed to playing without its biggest stars.


 
Faulk broke bones that connect his pinkie and ring fingers to his left wrist when his hand struck a helmet early in the third quarter of Sunday's 24-23 loss at Seattle. He'll be sidelined an estimated four to six weeks.

Faulk, who played in a career-low 10 games last season due to various injuries, also will undergo surgery to repair torn cartilage in his knee -- an injury that's been bothering him off and on since training camp.

The hand will not require surgery, but doctors will not allow him to play wearing a soft cast.

"They're very, very firm about when he'll be able to come back and when he won't be able to come back," coach Mike Martz said.

Second-year player Lamar Gordon, who finished the game at tailback, will start on Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals (1-2).

Faulk had 15 carries for 31 yards, and one reception for six yards, before leaving Sunday's game. This season, Faulk has 116 yards rushing for a 2.8 average per carry with one touchdown, and 12 catches for 66 yards. He has had trouble getting outside both rushing and receiving.

That's a far cry from his NFL-record run of four consecutive seasons of 2,000 yards rushing and receiving from 1998-2001.

The Rams have grown used to playing without some of their best players.

Two-time MVP Kurt Warner played in only seven games last year, and four-time Pro Bowl offensive tackle Orlando Pace missed six games with calf and hamstring injuries.

On Sunday, the Rams estimated Faulk would be out three to four weeks. The estimate was changed after team doctors examined the running back Monday in St. Louis.

Gordon had eight carries for 41 yards and caught four passes for 25 yards on Sunday, even though he had a severe headache and nausea early in the game.

"I feel very good about him," Martz said. "I feel outstanding about him after watching him on tape."

Gordon was named the starting fullback last week. Martz would not say who would play that position this Sunday, but it'll likely be a combination of long snapper Chris Massey and tight end Brandon Manumaleuna.

Martz complimented Massey's blocking on Sunday after Faulk was sidelined. He's hesitant to use Massey too much in that role, though, because of his importance on special teams.

Martz said a rash of injuries will prevent the team from signing a free agent to play fullback.

"We've got 20 percent of the roster on the sideline next week," Martz said. "There's just no room to go out and get one."

The Rams also lost backup linebackers Courtland Bullard (hamstring tear) and Jamie Duncan (high ankle sprain) in the Seahawks game, although Martz was hopeful that Duncan could play this weekend. Backup fullback Dan Curley re-injured a calf muscle during warmups.

Those injuries, added to several players already sidelined, might make it difficult for the Rams to field 45 healthy players on Sunday. Martz didn't want to dwell on that, or the Rams' 1-point loss, for too long.

"Today's mourning day," Martz said. "Mourning is over with after today and we move on. We can have our personal pity party today, but after today that's it."

Looks like it's over for the Rams this year......And Im almost certain Mike Martz wont be back next year, neither will Kurt Warner....

[[Stoned]Jesus H. Christ[Wheat]]

that certainly blows big time.

[UnstoppableForce]

fuck da rams