Tinoisamoa will start despite shoulder injury
By
Bill Coats
Of the Post-Dispatch
Wednesday, Sep. 15 2004
Rams linebacker
Pisa Tinoisamoa's right shoulder was yanked out of its socket
as he delivered a hard hit Sunday.
Even though Tinoisamoa returned to the game, coach Mike Martz feared subsequent
inspection would reveal serious damage.
"The first thought was three to four weeks out, potential surgery," Martz said.
So he was surprised to find out Monday that Tinoisamoa was working out in the
weight room.
"I think he's got interchangeable parts; that's the only way I can explain it,"
Martz said. "He'll play, he's fine, he's going to start. He's just going to
wear a brace to keep it from going back so far where it'll pop out again."
Martz, who refused to discuss injuries in his news conference Monday, said
Wednesday that linebacker Trev Faulk (hamstring) probably wouldn't play Sunday.
But safety Adam Archuleta (back spasms), center Andy McCollum (ankle), wide
receiver Shaun McDonald (knee), linebacker Tommy Polley (ribs) and wideout
Kevin Curtis (shin splints) should be ready to go.
Faulk's absence would leave the Rams with just four linebackers, but Tony
Newson could be promoted from the practice squad. "We'll have to make a roster
move of some sort," Martz said. "We haven't made a decision yet."
Rookie looks forward to a homecoming
One play into his first regular-season NFL game, rookie Anthony Hargrove found
that his head was spinning. He suffered a concussion after being drilled by
three players as the Rams returned the opening kickoff Sunday against Arizona.
"After the two initial hits, I was running and I knew something was wrong
because my vision was going up and down, and I was lost," said Hargrove, the
team's third-round draft pick. "I didn't know where I was. And then I get hit
again by somebody and that just kind of put me over the edge.
"I came back to the sideline and I told (special teams) Coach (Mike Stock), 'I
can't see.' And he (responded), 'What do you mean?' And I said, 'I can't see.
They hit me on top of my head twice.'"
Hargrove returned to the game and made eight tackles in a 17-10 victory at the
Edward Jones Dome. "Through the first half, I was still pretty much in kind of
a daze," he said. "But I didn't want to sit out. So I said, 'I'm fine,' and
went back in."
Hargrove said he's suffering no after-effects and is expecting "a really nice
homecoming event" this weekend when the Rams (1-0) travel to Atlanta to take on
the Falcons (1-0). Hargrove played college football at Georgia Tech.
Linebacker is signed as a free agent
The Ram added Drew Wahlroos, a 6-foot-3, 235-pound linebacker who was released
July 27 by Tennessee.
Wahlroos was in Philadelphia's camp last year as an undrafted rookie but was
cut before the regular season began.
Wahlroos, a two-time All-Big 12 Conference pick at Colorado, said he'd been
"working out and waiting for the phone to ring" in San Diego. He was summoned
by the Rams early Tuesday morning and assigned to the practice squad.
Rookie fullback has knee surgery
Rookie fullback Erik Jensen had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Friday.
Jensen, who suffered cartilage damage when his kneecap was dislocated Sept. 2
in a preseason game at Oakland, will spend the season on injured reserve. ...
Team owner Georgia Frontiere made a rare appearance at practice Wednesday at
Rams Park.
Tinoisamoa will start despite shoulder injury
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