Rams Report Around The Horns Hamstrings ‘R us: WR Burton returns to practice; Martin doubtful

10.09.2009 2:30 pm
Hamstrings ‘R us: WR Burton returns to practice; Martin doubtful
By Jim Thomas
St. Louis Post-Dispatch

St. Louis Rams starting wide receiver Keenan Burton, who missed part of Wednesday’s practice and all of Thursday’s with a sore hamstring, was back on the practice field Friday. On the team’s official injury report, he was listed as ”limited participation” and questionable for Sunday’s home game against Minnesota.

By NFL definition, a “questionable” designation means a player has a 50-50 chance of playing in that week’s game. But Burton did get a fair amount of work Friday, and seemed to be moving OK. (The Rams practiced indoors for the second day in a row because of rainy weather.)

But backup WR Ruvell Martin, who made his Rams debut last Sunday against San Francisco getting in for about a dozen plays on offense, did only rehab work on his sore hamstring _ no practice work _ and is listed as doubtful. With Martin almost certainly out against the Vikings, it looks like Nate Jones will play in his first NFL game Sunday joining Burton, Donnie Avery, and Danny Amendola as the Rams’ four wide receivers.

Avery (hamstring) also was listed as limited in practice and questionable for Sunday, but he appeared to get in even more work than Burton on Friday, and is expected to start against the VIkings.

The rest of the Rams’ lengthy injury report:

_ S James Butler (knee), out for the second game in a row.

_ S Anthony Smith (Achilles), doubtful after not practicing for the second day in a row.

_ QB Marc Bulger (shoulder) questionable. For the second straight day, Bulger got plenty of work with the scout team in practice. It’s a distinct possibility he will be the No. 2 quarterback against Minnesota.

_ OT Jason Smith (knee) questionable. Once again, Smith got plenty of practice work, with reps sprinkled in at right and left tackle. After missing the Green Bay and San Francisco games, Smith could dress Sunday, but be in a backup capacity.

_ CB Ron Bartell (thigh) and S Craig Dahl (concussion) both were full participation Friday in practice and listed as probably for the Vikings.

With James Butler out and Anthony Smith probably out as well, David Roach would be the only backup safety in uniform Sunday behind starters Dahl and Oshiomogho Atogwe