Prominent Players Set for Sunday
Friday, August 19, 2005
By Nick Wagoner
Senior Writer
Some NFL players need to put the preseason to use as much as possible for whatever reason while others would prefer not to participate at all.
Rookies, for example, generally need as much playing time as possible to get used to the speed of the game. Those returning from injury would prefer to play more to get used to collisions again. But some would rather not risk becoming one of the injured.
Sunday’s game against San Diego takes on a different meaning for three prominent Rams. Quarterback
Marc Bulger, right guard Adam Timmerman and free safety Adam Archuleta have varying needs on their participation.
After a performance that Bulger was not too pleased with against the Bears last week, Coach Mike Martz said he needed to get a few more repetitions, even going as far as to say that Bulger could play as much as a half against the Chargers.
“I was sloppy,” Bulger said. “I’m not where I need to be, but I think that’s expected being the first preseason game getting back into it. That’s why it’s preseason. I just treat it like a practice.”
Bulger, however, is not a big fan of preseason games and why would he be after seeing Chicago quarterback Rex Grossman suffer a broken ankle that will keep him out for most of the season?
Bulger played most of the first quarter against the Bears, going three-of-five for 38 yards and an interception. Bulger was sacked twice in that game.
“It doesn’t matter to me,” Bulger said. “I think I will (get more work). I think I’ll play probably a couple more series than I did last week. Whatever he (Martz) feels I need, I’ll go with it.
“It’s fun for us, but at the same time you have got to be careful. It really doesn’t mean anything.”
Timmerman will make his return from a plethora of offseason surgeries and get his first game action of the season after sitting out the game against the Bears. Timmerman’s injuries didn’t keep him out of any games last season and he doesn’t appear willing to let them do it this year either.
Archuleta will also be returning to the field against the Chargers after he spent the summer recovering from the multitude of back problems he dealt with last year.
“The back feels pretty good and I think the plan is to get in there and get some action,” Archuleta said. “We’ll just see how it goes. It just depends on the tempo of the game. I could be in a quarter and not get any action or I might be getting in the mix quite a bit. I guess it comes down to the tempo of the game on how much action I’ll get.”
INJURY UPDATE: The Rams continued to get healthier Friday afternoon, welcoming guard Claude Terrell back to practice. Of course, that was canceled out by Ryan Pickett’s early exit from practice.
Terrell had missed part of workouts the past two days after he was leg whipped in a drill. That caused some swelling in the knee, at least that’s what Martz thought it was.
“I think (with) Claude, the leg was swollen I guess,” Martz said. “I don’t know how you could tell. I know he was in a lot of pain. He took a pretty good whack. He moved around pretty good today, glad he came back and did what he did.”
Terrell took part in most of the drills Friday and should be ready to play Friday night.
Pickett has been battling a back injury, not a groin as was first suspected. He left practice a little early, but the reason for his departure is unknown.
Linebackers Louis Ayeni (calf) and
Brandon Chillar (shoulder) were the only other players on the roster not practicing Friday.
MOVING ON: The Rams released offensive lineman Zach Bray on Friday afternoon.
Bray was an undrafted free agent out of Texas Christian University. He signed with St. Louis on April 28.
JUST VISITING: San Francisco Giants’ first baseman J.T. Snow was at Rams Park on Friday afternoon taking in the afternoon practice with his father. Jack Snow, former Rams’ receiver and current color analyst for the team’s broadcasts, hosted his son for the afternoon workout.
J.T. Snow is in town to play a three-game series against the Cardinals this weekend at Busch Stadium.
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