Little Reports No Pain In Knee, Avery Catching TD Passes

Rams' Avery Eyes Quick Return

by r8rh8rmike

Rams' Avery eyes quick return
BY JIM THOMAS
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
08/26/2009

It was a two-touchdown day for Donnie Avery, albeit for the Rams' scout team Tuesday at Rams Park.

"Hands still work. Feet still work," Avery reported, with a grin.

The mere fact that he was running routes less than three weeks after suffering a stress fracture in his left foot rates as some of the best news of the preseason.

"Like I tell my teammates, I run fast but I heal fast," Avery said.

Avery was injured Aug. 7 during the Rams' scrimmage at Lindenwood University. "One of the 'DBs' landed on the back foot trying to make the tackle, and I got my foot caught up with his," Avery said.

The original projection was a four- to six-week recovery, which at the worst would have sidelined him for two regular-season games. Now it looks as if Avery may be out for only four weeks � tops. He isn't expected to play Thursday in Cincinnati, and his availability remains uncertain for the Sept. 3 preseason finale against Kansas City.

But as for the regular-season opener in Seattle � any doubt about playing there?

"Zero doubt," Avery said. "I know I work hard. And I knew it wasn't going to take me four to six weeks. So it was just in my head that I was going to come back sooner."

Avery has done a lot of running this week and looks as fast as ever, prompting jokes that the time off has prevented him from getting camp legs. His two TD catches Tuesday came during a red zone period.

"It feels great," he said. "Right now, it's just a mental thing. I can't even feel it when I practice out there."

Nonetheless, Avery has yet to be officially cleared to play in a game. When asked what must happen to get cleared, Avery replied, "Whatever the trainer says, and the dean says."

The dean?

"We call Spags the dean," Avery said. "He runs everything, so ..."

So coach Steve Spagnuolo is now the dean of Rams Park.

CARRIKER WORKS

Defensive tackle Adam Carriker appears to be close to returning from a sprained left ankle, an injury he suffered in the Lindenwood scrimmage. On Tuesday, Carriker got a fair amount of work during 11-on-11 periods, even though it came with the third-string defense.

Spagnuolo seems to be old-school on such matters, or perhaps he's trying to make a point that Carriker must work his way back into the starting lineup. Either way, Carriker � a first-round draft pick in 2007 � said he's OK with his current practice status. Gary Gibson, who started the first two preseason games in Carriker's absence, continues to work with the starting defense.

"Gibby's been out there practicing with the '1s,' "...
- Channel: RAMS NATION TALK
-08-26-2009, 04:28 PM
St. Louis Rams' Donnie Avery Works On Durability

by r8rh8rmike

St. Louis Rams' Donnie Avery works on durability
BY BILL COATS
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
06/12/2010

By trying to simultaneously give up meat and fried foods, Rams wide receiver Donnie Avery bit off more than he could chew. "I got burned out with it," he said. "So I cheat once a week and eat fried food."

Still, Avery mostly is sticking to chicken and fish, with heavy helpings of fruits and vegetables. He's hoping that an improved diet, plus 10 pounds of muscle added in the weight room, will increase his durability.

Nagging injuries � from a cracked hip to a stress fracture in his foot to a strained shoulder � hindered Avery during his first two seasons since the Rams made him the first wideout taken (second round, No. 33 overall) in the 2008 draft.

Avery missed only one game, but he rarely was in top shape on Sundays.

"It's frustrating, because you know you're not playing at a hundred percent," he said. "But at the same time you're still out there trying help the team as much as possible."

After the '09 season, coach Steve Spagnuolo suggested that Avery try to bulk up a bit.

"We talked about that before he left in January, that every time you catch the ball in the NFL, you've got to pop right back up and go in the huddle and make it look like nothing hurts," Spagnuolo said. "You've got to be durable, and one of the things about being durable is getting your body right. I think it's helping him.

"Now, we don't know; we haven't hit anything yet. But hopefully that'll work out."

For the organized team activities and the full-squad minicamp under way at Rams Park, the players aren't permitted to don pads, and contact is not allowed, per NFL rule.

The 5-foot-11 Avery added 14 pounds, up to 198, but wasn't comfortable. "It's kind of trial and error," he said. "I felt a little bit sluggish, so I had to lose some of that weight. I feel good with the 10 right now that I put on."

Avery's numbers slipped a bit last season from his rookie year. His receptions fell to 47 from 53 and his receiving yardage dipped to 589 from 674. "But my touchdowns went up last year" to five from three, he pointed out. "So that was a positive."

So far, his spring workouts have been a positive, too. "It's going great," Avery said. "Second year in the (offensive) system, and I feel a lot more comfortable in it."

Avery made a couple of acrobatic grabs at Friday's practice, which caught Spagnuolo's eye. "He looked really good today," Spagnuolo said. "I've been really happy with what Donnie's done. He'll tell you he's been inconsistent, because he's a pro and he wants to catch every ball. But I think he's doing a nice job."...
- Channel: RAMS NATION TALK
-06-12-2010, 10:46 AM
Avery Will Try To Play Through Shoulder Injury

by r8rh8rmike

12.07.2009 8:37 pm
Avery will try to play through shoulder injury
By Jim Thomas
St. Louis Post-Dispatch

An MRI neck exam for St. Louis Rams rookie defensive tackle Darell Scott showed no damage. And an X-ray of fullback Mike Karney�s neck injury, one that has sidelined him for two games, confirmed that he is healthy enough to return to practice this week.

But wide receiver Donnie Avery wasn�t so lucky. An MRI exam Monday showed he has a shoulder injury _ one that he will try to play through for the remainder of the season. Avery suffered the injury in Sunday�s game against the Chicago Bears, but finished the game wearing a brace.
- Channel: RAMS NATION TALK
-12-08-2009, 12:39 PM
Avery makes TD catch in return to action ..

by MauiRam

BY BILL COATS
Sunday, August 21, 2011 12:15 am

Although nearly a year has passed since Rams wide receiver Donnie Avery had played in a football game, he wasn't experiencing any butterflies before Saturday night's preseason contest against Tennessee.

"Naw," Avery said. "I was just ready to get out there, let the adrenaline flow and just make plays."

Gaining his first action of the preseason, Avery produced two catches for 23 yards, including a 19-yard touchdown in the Rams' 17-16 victory at the Edward Jones Dome.

"It was a long time coming," Avery said. "This time last year I was sitting on the side, hurting. I'm glad to be back."

Avery, a second-round draft pick in 2008, tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee last Aug. 26 in an exhibition game at New England. It cost him the entire season.

He sat out last week's preseason opener vs. Indianapolis as he took a training-camp break to rest the knee. He returned to practice this week and said after Saturday's contest his knee "feels great."

"I'm really proud of Donnie. I'm happy for him," Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo said. "He had a little setback in training camp, but he's back now."

A healthy Avery would provide a boost in the system that new coordinator Josh McDaniels has brought.

"Definitely with this offense," said quarterback A.J. Feeley, who tossed the TD pass to Avery. "The more weapons you can have, especially vertical threats and guys running down the field, it's always nice."

Avery's score early in the third quarter trimmed Tennessee's lead to 16-14.

"It was a hitch," Avery explained. "I saw the safety in the box, so my eyes lit up. I saw (Feeley's) eyes light up, and we connected."

A 14-yard catch by Avery was wiped out by a penalty. But, Feeley noted, Avery "definitely left his mark tonight.

"To fight back from a serious injury like that last year and in his first action here to get a touchdown and get a couple of catches ... you could tell that he was eager," Feeley added. "He wanted to prove something."

Twelve wideouts are in camp, vying for probably six spots on the regular-season roster. The competition in fierce, but Avery said he tries to keep his focus solely on what he can do.

"I just look at it like, just do my job, play my role," said Avery, who averaged 50 receptions and 631 yards in his first two NFL seasons. He had eight touchdowns.

"He looked like the same guy," Feeley said. "You wouldn't know that he came off a serious knee injury. It's a tribute to him in the offseason and what he's done, considering the lockout and rehabbing and getting himself ready. He always...
- Channel: RAMS NATION TALK
-08-21-2011, 10:09 AM
Avery Back in Action ..

by MauiRam

Avery Back in Action

By Nick Wagoner/Senior Writer

After hauling in a pass late in Wednesday night�s practice, the cheers came up from the sideline as Donnie Avery hauled in yet another catch and turned up field to run.

The cheers from the fans were common but the support from his teammates seemed to have a little something extra behind them.

Avery made his return to the practice field on Wednesday, performed again on Thursday and on Saturday night against the Titans, is on schedule to play in his first preseason game in almost a full calendar year.

In other words, it�s hard not to root for the soft spoken, humble Avery even if there is some good natured ribbing involved.

�A couple of guys said �Oh, snap No. 17 is back from the dead,�� Avery said. �They kind of gave me crap coming out but it�s kind of nice to know they are rooting for me and on the same page as I am.�

And why wouldn�t they be? The idea of a healthy Avery certainly brings an element to the offense that may not be there when he�s on the shelf.

Known for his blazing speed, Avery has been on the sideline for almost a full year after suffering a devastating ACL injury in the third preseason game last year in New England.

Avery spent the offseason training to get back up to speed, literally. He trained in Houston and did a lot of track work and says he clocked sub 4.3 40-yard dashes on a regular basis.

Upon the start of camp, Avery was back on the field going full speed. Like with any knee surgery, though, the Rams and Avery had to dial back his work load, which has kept him out of the past week or so of practice and the first preseason game.

�It was really more of a response, I think, to the surgery,� coach Steve Spagnuolo said. �Nothing uncommon. We just figured, why set him back? That�s why we kind of shut him down. And I think it was the right thing to do because I think he�ll start to surface now.�

Avery has indeed surfaced and has stuck out for his play making skills just in the two practices since he�s been back. In Wednesday night�s practice, Avery made a series of catches deep, across the middle and outside the hashes.

�I thought Donnie looked really good yesterday,� quarterback Sam Bradford said. �I thought he looked quick, I thought he looked fast, he made good decisions�Avery is another guy that will give us the opportunity to stretch the field with his speed.�
Avery had no ill effects linger from Wednesday�s practice and made it through Thursday�s workout just fine. All signs point to him playing Saturday night against Tennessee.

�It�s important to me because I haven�t been on the team, playing in a game in a year so I just need to get the ball in my hands and I think I�m explosive when it comes to making people miss and getting that YAC,� Avery said. �That�s...
- Channel: RAMS NATION TALK
-08-19-2011, 12:14 AM

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Little Reports No Pain In Knee, Avery Catching TD Passes

Little Reports No Pain In Knee, Avery Catching TD Passes

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