Amendola Doubtful; Fletcher Comments On Demotion

Amendola doubtful; Fletcher comments on demotion

3 hours ago • By Jim Thomas

Looks like the Rams will do without their top wide receiver, Danny Amendola, once again. In just his second game back since suffering a separated sterno-clavicular joint Oct. 4, Amendola suffered a foot/heel injury running a pass route in the first half against the New York Jets.

Amendola didn’t practice all week and was officially listed as doubtful for Sunday’s game in Arizona. Amendola has been in a walking boot all week. The Rams are 0-3 this season in games Amendola has missed entirely, and 3-3-1 when he plays. Even with the missed time, Amendola leads the Rams with 50 catches for 538 yards this season.

As for the rest of the injury report, running back Steven Jackson (foot) was listed as probable. Tight end Lance Kendricks (knee) was questionable but is expected to play.

Rookie safety Rodney McLeod was questionable with a calf injury, but didn’t practice again on Friday. McLeod was flagged for the critical holding penalty against the Jets, wiping out Chris Givens’ 98-yard punt return, but is considered one the Rams’ best special teams players.

If McLeod can’t go, Darian Stewart will be on the game-day roster. Slowed by hamstring and more recently knee problems, Stewart has played sparingly this season and has been a pre-game inactive the past two weeks because of the knee injury.

DIMINISHED ROLE

Bradley Fletcher’s days as a Ram appear to be numbered now that he has been demoted to the team’s fourth cornerback spot behind starters Cortland Finnegan and Janoris Jenkins, and new nickel back Trumaine Johnson.

“A change was made for the betterment of the team,” Fletcher said, in his first comments on the demotion. “My role has changed and now I’m just ready to do whatever else I can do to help the team win.”

Was Fletcher surprised by the move? “It was just a move made for the team,” he said. “I don’t know what else to say about it.”

Fletcher was on the field for only one play on defense against the Jets. Barring injury, and unless the team runs into opponents who use four-wide receiver sets, his playing time figures to be sparse over the final six games of the season. And that’s a pretty strong hint that the Rams aren’t interested in re-signing Fletcher, a third-round pick in 2009 whose contract expires after this season.

“It’s out of my control right now as far as what’s going on with the whole contract,” Fletcher said. “That’s later down the line. Right now we’re trying to win football games and be a better team; get our record to where we want it to be and try to make a push for the playoffs.”

Three pass interference penalties against New England helped seal Fletcher’s fate. For what it’s worth, however, ProFootballFocus.com has Fletcher rated as one of the best coverage corners in the league this season.

According to web site’s evaluation, opponents have a passer rating of only 51.7 against him (14 of 31, for 109 yards with one touchdown and one interception). Among the 66 corners evaluated, only Green Bay’s Casey Hayward (28.5), Chicago’s Tim Jennnings (38.7), and Seattle’s Richard Sherman (45.2) have a lower passer rating against them.

NO FINE FOR SLAUSON

Surprisingly, Jets offensive guard Matt Slauson was not fined for what appeared to be a spearing of Haggan, who suffered a dislocated elbow on the play and is expected to miss several weeks. Apparently, it was determined that the injury occurred as an off-balance Haggan was falling on the play, and prior to Slauson striking him on the ground.

Jets linebacker Garrett McIntyre was fined $15,750 for a helmet-to-helmet hit on quarterback Sam Bradford in the fourth quarter.

RAM-BLINGS

For Arizona, DE Calais Campbell (calf), WR Early Doucet (ribs), QB Kevin Kolb (ribs), and RB LaRod Stephens-Howling are all listed as questionable. Campbell, Doucet, and Kolb aren’t expected to play Sunday.

Once again, the Rams left a day early for a western trip, departing St. Louis for the Phoenix-area at 7 p.m. Friday. The last time they did so, Givens and Jenkins were suspended for the San Francisco game for violating team rules.

Man, Amendola just can't stay on the field.

We are very lucky that Campbell won't be playing. This guy is a monster and no Ram has been able to consistently block him for the past several years.

And to think Danny A still leads all Rams receivers, sometimes playing half injured! ProBowl caliber.

Very foolish to demote Bradley. He's is arguably our best cover corner. At least give the guy a shot at FS, because to say Craig Dahl is horrendous is being quite nice.

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Originally Posted by RealRam

And to think Danny A still leads all Rams receivers, sometimes playing half injured! ProBowl caliber.

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But no chance he's actually going to the Pro Bowl.