St. Louis Rams' Adam Carriker hopes for another chance
BY JIM THOMAS
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
01/08/2010
Three seasons into his NFL career, defensive tackle Adam Carriker must prove himself all over again — and he knows it.
"I've definitely got to show myself and play well," Carriker said. "And I'm just looking forward to doing that."
Carriker never made it to opening day in 2009, suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in the Rams' preseason finale against Kansas City. Carriker underwent shoulder surgery Sept. 9.
Coach Steve Spagnuolo's staff may have a sense of what Carriker can do. But they've seen very little of him in person — on the practice field or on game day. Prior to the shoulder injury, he missed three weeks of training camp and three preseason games with an ankle injury.
At this point, while the coaching staff and front office sifts through their roster options for 2010, Carriker can't be sure how or even if he fits into the team's plans. But he'd like the opportunity to revive his career for the team that drafted him 13th overall in 2007.
"I would love to play here," Carriker said. "I would love to stay here. I've got a home here. The Rams are my home. St. Louis is my home."
Nearly four months removed from surgery, Carriker is far along in his rehab program. "After four months, you're pretty much free to lift (weights) with a few restrictions," he said. "But pretty much I'm working on getting my full strength back."
Carriker hopes to be full-strength once the Rams begin their offseason conditioning program March 15. "Everything's on schedule, right on par if not a little bit ahead," Carriker said.
By the time the Rams reach spring practices and minicamp, Carriker may have competition at defensive tackle from former Nebraska teammate Ndamukong Suh.
"Why not? If they feel he's the best player," Carriker said. "That's really up to the guys upstairs. They'll do whatever they think is best for the team."
Here's a look at how other Rams are healing from season-ending injuries:
WR KEENAN BURTON
Burton was leading the Rams in receptions (25) when he suffered a season-ending patellar injury in his right knee Nov. 15 against New Orleans. He had surgery six weeks ago, and says he's on pace to begin jogging next month.
Team medical officials have told Burton he's ahead of schedule so far in his rehab, but Burton is unsure whether he'll be able to participate in spring practices. Burton was starting to settle in as an NFL pass-catcher when the injury occurred.
"I was feeling like I had been feeling when I was in college," said Burton, who attended Kentucky. "I was getting back to it. But you know what? In the grand scheme of things, everything happens for a reason. ... I'm just excited about the opportunity to get healthy, and excited about getting back to where I was before I got hurt."
OG JACOB BELL
Bell missed the final three games because of a hamstring injury suffered Dec. 13 against Tennessee. He had been playing with a torn ligament in his thumb since the bye week, and underwent thumb surgery last week.
"I'd just been playing with a splint wrapped around my thumb during games, and since I wasn't able to play (because of the hamstring injury), I just figured I'd get it taken care of," Bell said. "The thumb actually wasn't as bad as they thought when they got in there, so that's good."
Bell said both the thumb and hamstring injuries should be fine by the time the Rams' offseason program begins in March.
OG MARK SETTERSTROM
After missing all but three games over the 2007 and '08 seasons with knee injuries, Setterstrom's goal in '09 was to make it through all 16 games and contribute to the team however he could. He fell 1½ games short of that goal, suffering a season-ending left triceps injury extending his arm on a run block Dec. 27 against Arizona.
"It was disappointing that it had to happen so close to the end of the season," Setterstrom said. "Hopefully, I can get it healed up in the next couple months."
Setterstrom, who started three games this season, underwent surgery last week and will have the cast removed next week. He expects a four- to five-month recovery period, so at the worst, Setterstrom hopes to be ready for training camp.
DT GARY GIBSON
For four seasons, Gibson had worked hard to get a foothold in the NFL. He earned a starting job for the first time this season, stepping into the void created by Carriker's injury problems. But five games into the season, Minnesota's Artis Hicks shoved Gibson late. Gibson landed awkwardly and suffered a broken ankle. Hicks was fined $5,000 by the NFL for unnecessary roughness.
"It was definitely a year of opportunity for me," Gibson said. "It's upsetting that I had to get hurt, especially on a cheap-shot type thing, but I'm back in the gym, back ready to go for next year to do it all over again."
A plate was inserted to help the broken bone heal. Gibson is doing a little jogging, and said he should be OK for spring practices.
BY JIM THOMAS
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
01/08/2010
Three seasons into his NFL career, defensive tackle Adam Carriker must prove himself all over again — and he knows it.
"I've definitely got to show myself and play well," Carriker said. "And I'm just looking forward to doing that."
Carriker never made it to opening day in 2009, suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in the Rams' preseason finale against Kansas City. Carriker underwent shoulder surgery Sept. 9.
Coach Steve Spagnuolo's staff may have a sense of what Carriker can do. But they've seen very little of him in person — on the practice field or on game day. Prior to the shoulder injury, he missed three weeks of training camp and three preseason games with an ankle injury.
At this point, while the coaching staff and front office sifts through their roster options for 2010, Carriker can't be sure how or even if he fits into the team's plans. But he'd like the opportunity to revive his career for the team that drafted him 13th overall in 2007.
"I would love to play here," Carriker said. "I would love to stay here. I've got a home here. The Rams are my home. St. Louis is my home."
Nearly four months removed from surgery, Carriker is far along in his rehab program. "After four months, you're pretty much free to lift (weights) with a few restrictions," he said. "But pretty much I'm working on getting my full strength back."
Carriker hopes to be full-strength once the Rams begin their offseason conditioning program March 15. "Everything's on schedule, right on par if not a little bit ahead," Carriker said.
By the time the Rams reach spring practices and minicamp, Carriker may have competition at defensive tackle from former Nebraska teammate Ndamukong Suh.
"Why not? If they feel he's the best player," Carriker said. "That's really up to the guys upstairs. They'll do whatever they think is best for the team."
Here's a look at how other Rams are healing from season-ending injuries:
WR KEENAN BURTON
Burton was leading the Rams in receptions (25) when he suffered a season-ending patellar injury in his right knee Nov. 15 against New Orleans. He had surgery six weeks ago, and says he's on pace to begin jogging next month.
Team medical officials have told Burton he's ahead of schedule so far in his rehab, but Burton is unsure whether he'll be able to participate in spring practices. Burton was starting to settle in as an NFL pass-catcher when the injury occurred.
"I was feeling like I had been feeling when I was in college," said Burton, who attended Kentucky. "I was getting back to it. But you know what? In the grand scheme of things, everything happens for a reason. ... I'm just excited about the opportunity to get healthy, and excited about getting back to where I was before I got hurt."
OG JACOB BELL
Bell missed the final three games because of a hamstring injury suffered Dec. 13 against Tennessee. He had been playing with a torn ligament in his thumb since the bye week, and underwent thumb surgery last week.
"I'd just been playing with a splint wrapped around my thumb during games, and since I wasn't able to play (because of the hamstring injury), I just figured I'd get it taken care of," Bell said. "The thumb actually wasn't as bad as they thought when they got in there, so that's good."
Bell said both the thumb and hamstring injuries should be fine by the time the Rams' offseason program begins in March.
OG MARK SETTERSTROM
After missing all but three games over the 2007 and '08 seasons with knee injuries, Setterstrom's goal in '09 was to make it through all 16 games and contribute to the team however he could. He fell 1½ games short of that goal, suffering a season-ending left triceps injury extending his arm on a run block Dec. 27 against Arizona.
"It was disappointing that it had to happen so close to the end of the season," Setterstrom said. "Hopefully, I can get it healed up in the next couple months."
Setterstrom, who started three games this season, underwent surgery last week and will have the cast removed next week. He expects a four- to five-month recovery period, so at the worst, Setterstrom hopes to be ready for training camp.
DT GARY GIBSON
For four seasons, Gibson had worked hard to get a foothold in the NFL. He earned a starting job for the first time this season, stepping into the void created by Carriker's injury problems. But five games into the season, Minnesota's Artis Hicks shoved Gibson late. Gibson landed awkwardly and suffered a broken ankle. Hicks was fined $5,000 by the NFL for unnecessary roughness.
"It was definitely a year of opportunity for me," Gibson said. "It's upsetting that I had to get hurt, especially on a cheap-shot type thing, but I'm back in the gym, back ready to go for next year to do it all over again."
A plate was inserted to help the broken bone heal. Gibson is doing a little jogging, and said he should be OK for spring practices.
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