Isaac Bruce and Marc Bulger update

[Guest Moose Knuckle Ball Four]

ST. LOUIS - Quarterback Marc Bulger threw some passes prior to practice on Wednesday, but he was once again listed as questionable on the injury report for the St. Louis Rams' game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday at the Edward Jones Dome.

 

Rams interim head coach Joe Vitt said he wouldn't know if Bulger, who has an injured AC joint in his throwing shoulder, would be available against the Jaguars until later in the week.

 

"Marc was better today that he was last week," Vitt said. "It's going to be an on-going process for the next 96 hours until game starts."

 

Bulger sat out the Rams' 28-17 win over the New Orleans Saints last week after being listed as questionable on the team's injury report.

 

Wide receiver Torry Holt (knee) was listed as doubtful, while wide receiver Isaac Bruce (turf toe) was listed as questionable.

 

"We'll make a determination on Isaac and Torry at the end of the week," Vitt said.

 

Bruce, who has missed three games, did some running on the sideline on Wednesday.

 

"This was the timetable that was orginally set," Vitt said of Bruce's return. "Isaac keeps working and working and working to come back. Believe me, he'll be back as soon as he possibly can do it."

 

Vitt cautioned about Bruce coming back too soon from the injury.

 

"To return him now this early and lose him the for the rest of the season could be fatal for us," Vitt said.

[disproventheory 0]

KEVIN CURTIS!!!

 

bye week blues

[Guest Moose Knuckle Ball Four]

The Rams entered Sunday’s game against the Saints about as short-handed as they could possibly be. Without the presence of head coach Mike Martz, things were already difficult.

 

But St. Louis was also without four of its key cogs in quarterback Marc Bulger (shoulder), receivers Torry Holt (knee) and Isaac Bruce (toe) and defensive end Leonard Little (personal). The missing persons report didn’t get much better as the game went along, either.

 

First defensive tackle Damione Lewis was ejected then cornerback Travis Fisher left with a groin injury. Then cornerback Chris Johnson exited with a back injury and left guard Claude Terrell suffered a neck injury.

 

With Jacksonville coming to town Sunday, the Rams have a tough task in front of them. But it doesn’t appear that things are going to be much better on the injury front.

 

Holt’s status is probably the most surprising of the group. After injuring his knee against Seattle, Holt finished the game and played the next week against Indianapolis. He was a late scratch against the Saints and did not practice Wednesday.

 

Holt said he is making progress, but he is listed as doubtful on the team’s injury report Wednesday afternoon.

 

Coach Joe Vitt said Holt’s status is going to remain up in the air until later this week.

 

“Right now, it’s too early to tell,” Vitt said.

 

Bruce’s situation might actually be slightly more encouraging than Holt’s. Although Bruce isn’t yet participating in all phases of practice, he has been more involved in some of the individual drills and is listed as questionable on the injury report.

 

Bruce injured the toe against Tennessee in week three and missed the rest of that game and all of the games that have followed.

 

“This was the timetable that was originally set,” Vitt said. “Isaac keeps working and working and working to come back and he’s hoping. Believe me; he’ll be back as soon as he can possibly do it.”

 

As for the guy who usually throws to Holt and Bruce, Bulger’s status is still up in the air. It doesn’t appear likely that Bulger will be able to play this weekend, but he had throwing sessions earlier this week and did some limited throwing in Wednesday’s practice.

 

“Marc was better today than he was last week,” Vitt said.

 

Bulger is also questionable on this week’s injury report. Johnson’s back pain is also persisting and he, too, is listed as questionable.

 

Johnson was held out of Wednesday’s practice and his status for this weekend will also require a wait and see approach. Should Johnson be held out this week, Terry Fair would likely assume kickoff return duties.

 

Fisher’s groin has bothered him for the better part of the past two weeks after he struggled with a similar injury during training camp. He left Sunday’s game early because he aggravated the injury and was also held out of Wednesday’s practice.

 

Despite the fact that he missed Wednesday’s practice, Fisher said he is feeling better and is listed as probable for this weekend’s game.

 

“For a couple of weeks I have been having problems with the groin,” Fisher said. “It feels a lot better today, but we’ll see how it goes the rest of the week.”

 

For his part, though, Fisher sounds optimistic about his chances for taking on the likes of Jacksonville receiver Jimmy Smith on Sunday.

 

“I haven’t been out full speed running and cutting yet,” Fisher said. “I should be. I am preparing to play.”

 

Terrell spent Sunday night in the hospital after suffering a neck injury on Steven Jackson’s fourth-down touchdown run from a yard out that made it 17-14 New Orleans. Terrell immediately left the game and went for examinations.

 

The official diagnosis of his injury is a neck sprain, an injury that seriously limited his range of motion.

 

“I’m just taking it day by day, trying to get the range of motion and work on this soreness and get all of that out of there,” Terrell said.

 

Terrell did participate in a good portion of Wednesday’s practice and also appeared on the injury report as probable.

 

Quarterback Jamie Martin, the man who has filled in for Bulger, also appears on this week’s injury report because of a neck injury. Martin fully participated in Wednesday’s practice and appeared fine.

 

Little, on the other hand, did not appear on the injury report (even though he isn’t hurt, he did appear on last week’s report with personal as the reason) and also did not appear at Rams Park on Wednesday.

 

Little has been given clearance to take as much time away as he needs while he copes with the death of his brother. Little attended the services for his brother in North Carolina and did not come back to St. Louis for the New Orleans game.

 

Vitt did speak with Little earlier this week.

 

“I talked to Leonard yesterday and Leonard is struggling,” Vitt said. “He’s grieving right now and our football team and everyone here is lending our support to him.”

 

For the second week in a row, there are plenty of questions surrounding the health of the Rams, particularly a number of their best players. But, as Martin can attest, the team can’t use that as an excuse in preparation for Sunday’s game.

 

“Well, they aren’t going to cancel it for us,” Martin said.

[GBFAVRE4 0]

I miss Marc

[ricanrockers 39]

Sounds like Bruce, Holt & Bulger will be back by week # 10.