Turley to IR Tuesday

[RamWraith]

John Clayton is a senior writer for ESPN.com

Now that he's learned he's out for the season, St. Louis Rams right tackle Kyle Turley will take some time to determine what to do next. Every medical checkup revealed another bulging disc above the area that required surgery in the offseason.

The prognosis was to have a second operation. The only way he could have played was to take epidural shots to relieve the pain, but that would do nothing to fix the problem. The Rams' offensive line is in trouble now that injured center Dave Wohlabaugh has been released and Turley won't be available.

The Rams are expected to put Turley on injured reserve before Tuesday's roster cutdowns to 65 players.

The back problems put the long-term future of Turley in question. He turns 29 on Sept. 24 and has 95 starts during his six-year career. Last season he signed a six-year, $31 million contract that included $10.9 million in guarantees.

His presence along with the addition of Wohlabaugh solidified the blocking for quarterback Marc Bulger, who is not the most mobile quarterback. The improved blocking allowed the Rams to get back into the playoffs last season.

Turley's back started bothering him during the first couple days of training camp. Before camp was a week old, Turley left Macomb, Ill., and starting visiting doctors.

The final prognosis came Wednesday afternoon when a couple of specialists confirmed that his back was not healthy enough to withstand the season.

The Rams acquired Turley from the Saints for a second round choice in the 2004 draft. He was the seventh pick of the 1998 draft by New Orleans.

[HUbison]

The Rams' offensive line is in trouble now that injured center Dave Wohlabaugh has been released and Turley won't be available.

I'm a John Clayton fan, but he has been spending too much time in Bristol. Turley has been over-rated and Wohlabaugh never got up to speed on this line. It would have been nice to have them this year, but the remaining line is not exactly swiss cheese. We have pro-bowlers (Pace & Timmerman), we have solid veterans (McCollum, Williams, Randell), up-and-comers (King & Tercero), even a couple of 2nd timers who appear to be willing to do what it takes to get back to playing form (Dishman & Nutten). Will we have to re-work the formula a little? Yes. Is our line an elite one? No. Will they be more than adequate to protect this offense? Yes.

[Nick]

It would have been nice to have them this year, but the remaining line is not exactly swiss cheese.

Honestly, I think we'll have to wait until the start of the season before we can really make that assessment. After watching the Kansas City game, I can understand how someone might not exactly have a lot of faith in this year's offensive line personnel.

[HUbison]

Honestly, I think we'll have to wait until the start of the season before we can really make that assessment. After watching the Kansas City game, I can understand how someone might not exactly have a lot of faith in this year's offensive line personnel.

Yea, I see where people are saying that, but McCollum & Tercero were the only two playing without some minor nagging injury. Hopefully, by regular season that has been worked out.

My point is that the deletions of Wohlabaugh & Turley, while inconvenient, aren't season breakers.

[Nick]

My point is that the deletions of Wohlabaugh & Turley, while inconvenient, aren't season breakers.

I suppose them my counter is that Clayton never said they were, just that the Rams were in trouble, which I would contend is correct since they were forced to call two guys out of retirement to fill voids on the line.

[HUbison]

I suppose them my counter is that Clayton never said they were, just that the Rams were in trouble, which I would contend is correct since they were forced to call two guys out of retirement to fill voids on the line.

But Clayton did say that.

The Rams' offensive line is in trouble now that injured center Dave Wohlabaugh has been released and Turley won't be available.

I just don't see them in trouble due to the loss of those two. Wohlabaugh is replaced by McCollum (upgrade). McCollum will be replaced by Nutten (by reports appears to be a slight downgrade for now). Turley is replaced by Tercero/Williams (slight downgrade). If I'm wrong, I'm wrong, but I just don't see that as "trouble".

[ZigZagRam]

After watching the Kansas City game, I can understand how someone might not exactly have a lot of faith in this year's offensive line personnel.

Plug in Orlando Pace at left tackle and shift Grant Williams over to the right side and the game isn't nearly as horrific.

[afrightertoo]

The back problems put the long-term future of Turley in question.

OK. Raise your hand if you saw this coming at the end of last season?