Jackson is iffy for Sunday's game

By Jim Thomas
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Thursday, Oct. 23 2008
On the one hand, running back Steven Jackson said his right thigh injury is
headed in the "right direction." After a light indoor workout Wednesday, he
said the thigh felt good.

But he declined to put a percentage on how healthy it is, and didn't say that
he was definitely playing Sunday against New England.

Jackson's most direct answer on the subject probably came in comments to New
England reporters on a conference call.

"The leg feels good," Jackson said. "We're not quite sure, we're still going to
see what's going to happen for Sunday. But I was able to do some rehab work
with our weight coach, do some light lifting, and some light pool work."

All of that work apparently took place during practice because Jackson — in
sweats and a "hoodie" — was on the field for "pre-practice" work and
stretching, and then headed indoors. He didn't return to the field until the
end of Wednesday's practice at Rams Park.

"We're going to take it day to day," Jackson said. "I'm pretty good with having
a feel for my body and knowing where I'm at. I feel good, especially compared
to (last) Sunday."

Later, he told St. Louis reporters: "It's Wednesday and we have until Sunday to
make a game-time decision. If I could tell anybody, my fans that are concerned,
it's definitely going in the right direction."

Jackson suffered the injury while planting awkwardly on a running play midway
through the fourth quarter of the Rams' 34-14 victory over Dallas. Before that
play, Jackson had racked up 160 yards rushing and three touchdowns, a
performance that earned him NFC offensive player of the week honors.

"It kind of got bent up funny on the tackle," Jackson said. "It kind of
over-stretched itself and it was a sharp pain right away."

So Jackson's initial thought as he hobbled to the sideline at the Edward Jones
Dome was that the injury was serious. He feared the worst until an MRI exam
Monday showed no serious damage to the thigh muscle, which put his mind at ease.

"Being able to get the light workout (Wednesday) is really promising," Jackson
said.

Coach Jim Haslett said the plan all along was to not have Jackson practice
Wednesday, and then have him participate in the walk-through portion of
Thursday's practice.

"And then we'll see where he's at on Friday," Haslett said. "Hopefully, he'll
get a few reps in on Friday based on how he feels."

But Haslett, who stated Monday that Jackson "should be fine" for New England,
backed off that prognosis somewhat on Wednesday.

"We've still got four days, so if he's ready to go, he's ready to go," Haslett
said.

As improbable as it seems, a victory Sunday at Gillette Stadium could put the
Rams back in the NFC West race. Given the importance of the game, would Jackson
be willing to play in a lot of pain Sunday if it didn't mean risking further
injury?

"Anybody can be tough in somebody else's body," Jackson replied. "If it's
something that I can let rest a week, and be able to play the rest of the
season without injury, you have to take that into consideration. We're
day-to-day on it."

If Jackson can't go, the Rams will go with a committee approach, using Travis
Minor, Antonio Pittman and Kenneth Darby. It's a smallish trio; Darby is the
heaviest of the three at 211 pounds. And it's a trio without much NFL
experience. Darby has two career carries; Pittman has 39. Minor, an eight-year
pro, has 301 career carries, but only 49 since the end of the 2004 season.

But all three have hard-nosed running styles. Minor is more of a perimeter
threat and is the best receiver of the group. Pittman hasn't played since the
Week 3 loss at Seattle because of a small crack in the fibula bone in his lower
left leg.

But Pittman said Wednesday that he has been cleared to play.

"It's full-go now," Pittman said. "It's just mostly getting my legs back under
me and continuing to work hard. ... It was just a matter of letting the bone
heal. I went back in and got an X-ray last week and it was healed. I got
another one Sunday, and it looked even better."

Like Pittman, Minor said he's ready if called upon Sunday.

"I know my role," Minor said. "Of course, with special teams, and also be ready
whenever folks call your number. I'll be ready however many times the coach
calls my number. But I'm sure Antonio feels the same way, and Kenneth feels the
same way."

Steven "The Beast" Jackson will be playing Sunday. We're on a 2 game winning streak for crying out loud.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by laram0

Steven "The Beast" Jackson will be playing Sunday. We're on a 2 game winning streak for crying out loud.

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If he does play, I hope he's ready and able to give it his all.

He has to play. I really see Jackson as the deciding factor. I think the Patriots would have a lot of trouble stopping him as long as he doesn't cough up the ball. Of course if the risk of aggravating the injury is high, it's only one game and you have to think about the rest of the season. I just want this game bad. So bad.

I think it's strategy, personally. Why not make the Patriots prepare for two backs instead of focusing solely on Jackson.

I think he's already good to go, and I think he'll have to have another big outing for us to steal victory.

I dont think he is going to play and personally, i think its the right decision. We can win the west without this game. The odds of winning this game arent the greatest even with him. The nfl season is a war of attrition. If he isnt ready and he is a step too slow, he dramatically increases the odds of aggrevating this injury or getting hurt in some other way. Losing the Big Boy for any extended period of time is the end of our season. I would take the long range approach on this and make sure he is really healthy for the game the following weak against arizona, which is a really really critical game if we want to win the west.


ramming speed to all

general counsel

Play him for 2 quarters, should have 150+ yards and 2 touchdowns by then

Quote:

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Originally Posted by general counsel

I dont think he is going to play and personally, i think its the right decision. We can win the west without this game. The odds of winning this game arent the greatest even with him. The nfl season is a war of attrition. If he isnt ready and he is a step too slow, he dramatically increases the odds of aggrevating this injury or getting hurt in some other way. Losing the Big Boy for any extended period of time is the end of our season. I would take the long range approach on this and make sure he is really healthy for the game the following weak against arizona, which is a really really critical game if we want to win the west.


ramming speed to all

general counsel

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I agree 100%. I also am a little excited to see our team play without him. You won't hear a single Ram say that Jackson is not our best player, if we go out to New England without are top guy and beat the Patriots then there is no chance of derailing this streak we are on. What a win it would be if Jackson stayed on the sideline.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RamWraith

By Jim Thomas
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Thursday, Oct. 23 2008

Jackson's most direct answer on the subject probably came in comments to New
England reporters on a conference call.

"The leg feels good," Jackson said. "We're not quite sure, we're still going to
see what's going to happen for Sunday. But I was able to do some rehab work
with our weight coach, do some light lifting, and some light pool work."

"

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I would be like Belichick he is very coy on what he tells the press If I was SJ I would be just as coy to the New England reporters.

Lets see how it goes. I hope he's good, but if he is not capable of working a full load, don't make him. We are still in the running for a play off spot with the weak NFC West. If we lose him for more than two weeks it will be tough. If we lose him for one, it'll be fine.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by general counsel

I dont think he is going to play and personally, i think its the right decision. We can win the west without this game. The odds of winning this game arent the greatest even with him. The nfl season is a war of attrition.
general counsel

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If he is not ready, he should not play, but I don't think we can afford to concede any games to anyone ,I don't care who they are. Cards are a good team and they are not going to fall back much. We need to say close if we have any chance. We lose this week and they win we are 3 games back, that is a mountain my friends in the NFL. We would need to win out in the west and as bad as the west is you still never know whats going to happen in this league ie look as us. SF got a new coach who knows. The only way we make the playoff is to win the west. It will be almost impossible if we are 3 back than needing to sweep the cards and hope the wheel fall off there wagon. This is not the time to concede anything.