Sam Bradford's Especially Deep St. Louis Rams Return

Fantasy Football Week 10: Sam Bradford's Brandon Lloyd-Backed Renaissance

Sam Bradford showed cause for optimism for the St. Louis Rams and fantasy football owners in the Rams' Week 9 heartbreaker to the Arizona Cardinals.

Rams Vs. Cardinals Score Update: Rams Fall In Stunning Fashion

Over the course of the first eight games of the season, the St. Louis Rams have shown the ability to lose in a variety of different ways. However, in the 19-13 (OT) loss to the Arizona Cardinals, the Rams found a way to lose in the most heartbreaking fashion possible. After blowing numerous opportunities to potentially win the game in regulation, the Rams gave up a 99-yard punt return TD to Patrick Peterson to seal the loss.

While losing in that fashion was certainly heartbreaking, the Rams will be most frustrated by even allowing the game to get to OT. After a TD by Larry Fitzgerald tied the game at 13, the Rams appeared to be driving for a game-winning field goal. However, instead of attempting a 50-yard field goal, Steve Spagnuolo elected to try and convert on fourth and short. Unfortunately, Steven Jackson came up short, which seemed to give the Cardinals a chance to win the game.

Instead of buckling under pressure, the Rams defense held the Cardinals and forced a punt. After a couple of quick completions to Austin Pettis, the Rams were in position to attempt a game-winning field goal as time expired. In stunning fashion, Calais Campbell blocked the 42-yard attempt to force OT.

In the loss, Steven Jackson ran for 130 yards on 29 carries. Sam Bradford completed 23/26 for 255 yards in his return from an ankle injury. However, the inability to get into the endzone doomed the Rams to a frustrating loss. St. Louis will hope to bounce back when it visits Cleveland next week.

Stay tuned to Turf Show Times, SB Nation's St. Louis Rams blog, and Revenge of the Birds, SB Nation's Arizona Cardinals blog.

Rams Vs. Cardinals Final: Patrick Peterson Returns Punt For Touchdown, Arizona Stuns In Overtime

Patrick Peterson returned his third punt of the season for a touchdown, and this 99-yard shot came in overtime as the Arizona Cardinals stunned the St. Louis Rams by a score of 19-13. The Rams had neutralized Peterson all game in the punt game, but he surprised them by taking the ball out deep within Cardinals territory and confounded them by dodging nearly every Ram on the field on his way to the Cardinals’ overtime win.

For the Rams the loss is another ugly reminder of their offense’s inability to put the ball into the end zone. Despite 255 yards from Sam Bradford and 130 more from Steven Jackson the Rams were unable to score a single touchdown, relying on three field goals from Josh Brown and two consecutive safeties on Cardinals backup John Skelton to get on the board.

After a start that gave cause for optimism it looks like Rams fans are in for another week of speculation about Steve Spagnuolo’s future, courtesy the incredible Patrick Peterson and their own strange inadequacies.

Rams Vs. Cardinals Score Update: Overtime Forced As Cardinals Block Regulation-Ending Field Goal

The St. Louis Rams and the Arizona Cardinals will play overtime in their Week 9 contest—regulation ended with the score tied at 13 after the Rams’ game-ending field goal, a 42-yarder from Josh Brown, was blocked at the line of scrimmage as time expired. Sam Bradford and the Rams won the coin toss, leaving the game—and the Rams’ second win in a row—in the hands of their sophomore quarterback, back for his first game after missing two due to injury.

The Cardinals tied the game on a late touchdown from John Skelton to Larry Fitzgerald, who’d been quiet all day. The Rams’ offense has come from safeties, field goals, and some booming punts from Donnie Jones—Bradford has been excellent, but unable to reach the end zone due in part to serious pressure from the Cardinals’ defense.

The matchup between Brandon Lloyd and Patrick Peterson has been won, thus far, by Lloyd, who caught five balls for 80 yards in regulation. Steven Jackson’s over 100 yards rushing on the day after struggling in the third quarter.

Cardinals Vs. Rams Score: Larry Fitzgerald Grabs First Touchdown, Ties Game 13-13

The Arizona Cardinals scored the first touchdown of a truly ugly Week 9 matchup with the St. Louis Rams in the fourth quarter Sunday afternoon, with John Skelton hitting Larry Fitzgerald for a 13-yard touchdown catch with five minutes left in regulation to tie the score at 13. Skelton had his best drive of the night at the right moment, rushing for 28 yards and passing for 47 more to get the Cardinals in the end zone.

Fitzgerald had been mostly neutralized until the reception—he exits regulation with just four receptions for 43 yards and the touchdown—but John Skelton has looked strong in his first start of the season in place of the injured Kevin Kolb, going 20-for-35 for 222 yards and a touchdown and running the ball five times for 22 yards more, including those two crucial scrambles in that touchdown drive.

The Rams have looked strong on offense but still remain completely averse to the end zone—Sam Bradford is 22-for-31 for 251 yards and zero touchdowns, while Josh Brown has three field goals and the Rams’ defense two safeties.

Greg Salas Injury: St. Louis Rams' Rookie Carted Off Grabbing Leg

The St. Louis Rams may have just lost their second slot receiver—Greg Salas left their Week 9 nailbiter against the Arizona Cardinals with an apparent leg injury after catching his seventh ball of the day from Sam Bradford. Salas, a fifth-round pick in the 2011 NFL Draft from Hawaii, had just emerged as an adequate replacement for Danny Amendola after an extremely slow start to the season. After holding his leg on the field Salas was carted off with an air-cast on, looking especially glum—this could be a serious injury for a Rams offense that couldn’t really take another.

With Salas gone, fourth-rounder Austin Pettis, heretofore confined to special teams, will likely take his place, while a bigger share of the offense will go to Brandon Gibson and Brandon Lloyd.

The Rams had already lost second-round pick Lance Kendricks in the first half, to another leg injury. If both injuries are serious it looks like we’ll see just how deep this maligned Rams receiver corps can be.

Rams Vs. Cardinals Score: Steven Jackson's Struggles Stymie Rams In Second Half

The St. Louis Rams have scored four points in the second half, thanks primarily to Donnie Jones and a hungry defense—while Sam Bradford continues to clam up near the red zone, the team’s major problem has been Steven Jackson’s struggles since halftime. After a solid-but-unspectacular first half in which Jackson averaged just under four yards per carry he’s been entirely neutralized in the second, finding himself consistently nailed behind the line of scrimmage to set an unpleasant tone in the Rams’ offensive drive.

Thanks to John Skelton’s struggled in his own end zone, this hasn’t been a problem. But in a game defined primarily by the Rams’ cautious offensive optimism this inability to produce positive yardage on first down from their star running back—let alone points through the air from their star quarterback—shows just how far the Rams have to go before they’ll be at the level everyone expected out of Josh McDaniels’s new offense.

In the fourth quarter Jackson has 21 carries for 76 yards, as well as one reception for 12 more. Backup Cadillac Williams has been quiet, carrying the ball three times for 17 yards of his own.

St. Louis Rams Vs. Arizona Cardinals Score Update: Defense The Key As Rams Lead 13-6

Although it certainly hasn't been a work of art, the St. Louis Rams are one quarter away from winning their second consecutive  game, as they lead 13-6 over the Arizona Cardinals. The play of the defense was exceptional in the 3rd quarter, with the Rams recording two safeties, courtesy of sacks from James Hall and CJ Ah You.

Each safety came courtesy of a great punt by Donnie Jones, who has been instrumental in helping the Rams build this lead. The offense has sputtered despite being able to move the ball down the field, but Jones has been able to pin the Cardinals near their endzone on multiple punts.The defense has also been excellent in limiting Cardinals RB Beanie Wells to only 20 yards on 10 carries.

On the offensive end, Sam Bradford has been solid in his return from an ankle injury. Bradford has completed 16/23 for 187 yards and an early interception. Steven Jackson has been effective on the ground, rushing for 74 yards.

Be sure to stay tuned to Turf Show Times, SB Nation's St. Louis Rams blog, and Revenge of the Birds, SB Nation's Arizona Cardinals blog.

St. Louis Rams Force Second Safety Against Arizona Cardinals, Lead By 13-6 Score

John Skelton and the Arizona Cardinals are finding it strikingly difficult to get out of the end zone, thanks to the St. Louis Rams’ resurgent defense and Donnie Jones’s perfect punts. C.J. Ah You forced the Rams’ second safety in a row Sunday when Skelton was called for intentional grounding in the end zone. Despite a major offensive slowdown for Sam Bradford and company in the second half, the Rams now lead by a score of 13-6—three field goals, two safeties, and no touchdowns. The Rams were forced three-and-out again after the offensive line continued to struggle while protecting Bradford.

It’s no problem, so long as Donnie Jones is backstopping the fourth downs—for the third time in a row, following the second safety, Jones pinned the Arizona Cardinals back to the five yard line with another booming punt. He’s averaging 52 yards a punt on four attempts, including a 59-yarder on his first attempt of the day in Glendale.

Rams Vs. Cardinals Score: St. Louis Forces Safety, Leads Arizona 11-6

The St. Louis Rams’ defense hasn’t exactly been dominant in 2011, but a brilliant Donnie Jones punt helped them score two on a John Skelton safety Sunday, pushing the Rams’ lead over the Arizona Cardinals to 11-6 in Week 9. James Hall and Gary Gibson share the credit for the safety, which is the Rams’ fourth scoring opportunity without a touchdown.

Jones has averaged 51 yards per punt in two attempts Sunday, and pushed the Cardinals behind the five-yard-line after the fourth Sam Bradford sack of the afternoon ended the Rams’ third quarter drive.

The Rams will get the ball back just outside Cardinals territory after the safety. Sam Bradford, who’s 14-for-19 with 178 yards and an interception in his first game back from his high ankle sprain, will try to get his first touchdown of the day off the free kick. He’s looked solid, if a little less mobile than usual, operating mostly out of the shotgun. But if the Rams’ defense and special teams continues playing this well, it might not even matter.

Arizona Cardinals Score: John Skelton Looks Just About Like Kevin Kolb Vs. Rams

So, good or bad news for Arizona Cardinals fans, depending on how you feel about the Cardinals’ expensive acquisition of Kevin Kolb in exchange for Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and a second-rounder in the 2012 NFL Draft: John Skelton looks a lot like Kevin Kolb in the Cardinals’ Week 9 competition vs. the St. Louis Rams, despite the 9-3 first-half score.

Not better, certainly—Kolb’s actually been pretty solid in his first extended chance to start, averaging more than seven yards per attempt despite a porous offensive line that’s allowed him to go down 24 times for 187 yards. But Skelton, who drove the Cardinals’ downfield in the first drive of the third quarter to cut the Rams’ lead to 9-6, has been considerably more competent than he showed last year, going 10-for-17 for 123 yards in his first start of the 2011 season.

Skelton, undrafted out of Fordham, of all places, averaged 5.3 yards per attempt in four starts as a true rookie in 2010, after Derek Anderson revealed that he was still not an NFL quarterback. It looks, if today’s performance is any indication, like he’s at least a capable backup—which is good news unless you think that’s also Kevin Kolb’s upside.

Rams Vs. Cardinals Score Update: St. Louis Uses Strong Defense To Jump Out To 9-3 Lead At Halftime

While the Rams have been able to build on some of their momentum from last week, the 9-3 halftime lead over the Arizona Cardinals will likely leave a bad taste in their mouth, as the Rams could easily hold a double-digit lead. However, penalties and the continued inability to protect Sam Bradford have forced a couple of promising drives to end in field goals.

The good news is that Bradford has been impressive in his return from an ankle injury. Bradford has completed 11/15 attempts for 133 yards. He also has formed a strong connection with Brandon Lloyd, who leads the Rams with 63 yards receiving. The acquisition of Lloyd has given the Rams a reliable receiving threat for the first time since the injury to Mark Clayton last season. Steven Jackson had done a nice job wearing down the Cardinals defense, rushing for 53 yards on 14 carries.

On the defensive end, the Rams have been outstanding in every area. They have limited Beanie Wells to only 2 yards on 7 carries and have made life difficult for John Skelton. Rookie DE Robert Quinn continued to show his growth, picking up another key sack to end a Cardinals drive.

Be sure to visit Turf Show Times, SB Nation's St. Louis Rams blog, and Revenge of the Birds, SB Nation's Arizona Cardinals blog.

Lance Kendricks Injury: Rams Tight End Questionable To Return Vs. Cardinals

The St. Louis Rams' offense has been firing on more cylinders than usual against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 9, but they could be without rookie tight end Lance Kendricks for a while if his foot injury turns out to be serious. Or it's an ankle injury—or it's a leg injury—or, suffice it to say, Twitter and the football community at large are as confused as they are concerned about the injury to a guy who's struggled since being anointed one of the prime fantasy football sleepers of the 2011 NFL season.

Whatever it is, we know that Kendricks was carted off the field and is questionable to return. In the meantime ankle-injury-magnet Michael Hoomanawanui, coming off one of his better games in Week 8, is the best bet to see action in this newly reinvigorated Rams offense. For more updates, follow along in this storystream or check out Turf Show Times, the best St. Louis Rams blog on the internet, so far as we can tell.

Sam Bradford And Brandon Lloyd: Pretty Exciting After All

Rams Vs. Cardinals Score Update: Game Tied At 3 After First Quarter

After picking up their first win of the season last week against New Orleans, the Rams were given another spark before the game when it was announced that Sam Bradford would return from injury after missing the past two games. Although there were some worries about how mobile Bradford would be coming off an ankle injury, he was sharp in the 1st quarter, completing 6/8 attempts. However, Bradford did throw an interception to Patrick Peterson on an attempted flea-flicker.

Most importantly, the St. Louis Rams have continued to play tough defense after a dominant performance against the Saints. The Rams limited Beanie Wells to just five yards rushing in the opening quarter and kept consistent pressure on John Skelton.

Steven Jackson has also been strong, rushing for 41 yards on 12 carries. With a healthy Jackson, Bradford and Brandon Lloyd, the Rams have three of their most important players on the field together for the first time.

For the latest news and notes from this game, be sure to stay tuned to Turf Show Times, SB Nation's St. Louis Rams blog, and Revenge of the Birds, SB Nation's Arizona Cardinals blog.

Arizona Cardinals Injury Report And Inactive List, Week 9: Beanie Wells In, Kevin Kolb Out

The Arizona Cardinals are playing the St. Louis Rams on Sunday, and they're doing so with John Skelton as their starting quarterback. The team recently released its official inactives list on its Twitter feed, and starting quarterback Kevin Kolb is among those not playing. Here's the full list below:

- QB Kevin Kolb

- OG Deuce Lutui

- LB Joey Porter

- WR Stephen Williams

- FB Anthony Sherman

- TE Rob Housler

- FS Kerry Rhodes

Obviously the big name here is Kolb. The team's main alternative, Skelton, hasn't really shown the ability to be an NFL-caliber quarterback before, so this could be a long day for the Cardinals. Luckily, the team has both running back Beanie Wells and tight end Todd Heap playing today, so Skelton should have a couple more weapons to work with. Both Wells and Heap played infrequently during practice this week.

For more on Sunday's game, check out Turf Show Times, SB Nation's St. Louis Rams blog, and Revenge of the Birds, SB Nation's Arizona Cardinals blog. For more on the NFL, check out SB Nation's NFL page, and keep tabs on SB Nation St. Louis.

St. Louis Rams Injury Report And Inactive List, Week 9: Sam Bradford Playing, Danario Alexander Inactive

The St. Louis Rams face the Arizona Cardinals in a match-up of struggling NFC West teams on Sunday, and the team recently announced its official inactives list on its Twitter feed. The big name that doesn't appear on the list is starting quarterback Sam Bradford, who is active and playing in Sunday's game despite missing some practices this week while recovering from a high ankle injury. Here's a full list of the inactive players:

- WR Danario Alexander

- CB Rod Hood

- RB Jerious Norwood

- LB Bryan Kehl

- OT Jason Smith

- TE Stephen Spach

- DT Darell Scott

There are seven in all, but none of these guys is as important to the team's success as Bradford. They'll certainly miss Alexander and Smith on offense, but they've been out for weeks anyways, so just getting Bradford back for Sunday makes this injury report good news for Rams fans.

For more on Sunday's game, check out Turf Show Times, SB Nation's St. Louis Rams blog, and Revenge of the Birds, SB Nation's Arizona Cardinals blog. For more on the NFL, check out SB Nation's NFL page, and keep tabs on SB Nation St. Louis.

Sam Bradford Injury Update: Rams Say Signs Pointing Towards QB Playing

We still don't have any official word yet on whether the St. Louis Rams will play quarterback Sam Bradford today against the Arizona Cardinals, but signs of optimism appear to be emerging. Bradford's been battling a high ankle injury for the past few weeks, and playing infrequently during practices this week.

Earlier on Sunday, the team's official Twitter feed reported that Bradford would test his ankle just before the game and that the team would proceed to make a decision then. They've since made another tweet, saying that "signs [are] pointing to QB Sam Bradford making the start today," while adding that they'd announce when an official decision is made.

Right now, there are a bunch of reasons to believe that Bradford will play today. It's still not official, but it appears to be probable, and we may just be waiting for an official word at this point. I'm guessing that A.J. Feeley is still fully prepared to play against the Cardinals, though.

For more on Sunday's game, check out Turf Show Times, SB Nation's St. Louis Rams blog, and Revenge of the Birds, SB Nation's Arizona Cardinals blog. For more on the NFL, check out SB Nation's NFL page, and keep tabs on SB Nation St. Louis.

Rams Vs. Cardinals: Game Time, TV Schedule, Radio Streaming And More

The Rams square off against the Cardinals looking for their second straight win.

St. Louis Rams Injury Report: Bryan Kehl Out For Visit To Arizona

After suffering a high ankle sprain in practice on Thursday, LB Bryan Kehl has been ruled out for the matchup with the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. Kehl, who started in the place of Brady Poppinga in the surprising victory over New Orleans, recorded four tackles and played a key role in helping to limit the high-octane Saints offense. According to the St. Louis Rams twitter page, Poppinga should be able to return from the calf injury that kept him off the field last week:

@StLouisRams: Rams have downgraded LB Bryan Kehl from questionable to out. Sprained ankle. Poppinga expected to go at SLB.

Poppinga, who signed with the Rams in the offseason, has been relatively productive in a starting role this season. He ranks 9th on the team with 20 tackles and has been solid at the point of attack. However, after getting gashed by Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray in a 34-7 loss to the Cowboys two weeks ago, the Rams sharpened up the rushing defense in the victory over New Orleans, limiting the Saints to only 56 yards rushing as a team.

For the latest Rams news, be sure to visit Turf Show Times. SB Nation NFL has all the latest news and notes for football fans.

Fantasy Football Week 9 Advice: Sam Bradford Is Risky, Steven Jackson Is Solid

Here's to hoping your fantasy team isn't dependent on the health of St. Louis Rams QB Sam Bradford. The status of the franchise cornerstone for Sunday's game against the Arizona Cardinals has been up in the air for the better part of the week. If Bradford does play, the experts at numberFire don't expect big things from the ailing QB, and in fact they have backup QB Jay Feeley with similar projected stats in the event he plays.

After a big week by Steven Jackson against the Saints, the Rams offense should flow through Jackson on Sunday. He is expected to have approximately 100 combined yards and a TD. WR Brandon Lloyd might not be a great play until Bradford is completely healthy again, but he's probably the best bet on the roster if you are in a pinch at the position.

For the Cardinals, backup QB John Skelton isn't expected to do much against the Rams defense, so it might not be a terrible idea to start the Rams unit and hope for some sloppy QB play.

Below are numberFire's projections for Rams players on Sunday:       

For more fantasy info, check out SB Nation Fantasy on Twitter, @sbnationfantasy.

Stay tuned to SB Nation St. Louis for more information, and for in-depth analysis on the St. Louis Rams be sure to visit Turf Show Times. Visit SB Nation NFL for more news and notes around the league.

St. Louis Rams Injury Report: WR Danario Alexander Out, LB Bryan Kehl 'Very Questionable'

The St. Louis Rams have released their injury report for Friday:

Cleared to Play
LB Brady Poppinga
CB Justin King

Questionable
QB Sam Bradford
LB Bryan Kehl

Out
WR Danario Alexander
DT Darell Scott
RT Jason Smith

The Rams' biggest injury news continues to surround quarterback Sam Bradford, who is somewhere between unlikely to questionable for the game this Sunday. Outside of Bradford, the Rams have a growing collection of key injuries for their their Week 9 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals.

Linebacker Bryan Kehl continues to nurse his ankle sprain and will probably have his condition determined tomorrow after some tests. According to the official St. Louis Rams Twitter, Kehl is currently "very questionable."

Wide receiver Danario Alexander, who only yesterday appeared on the injury report, has been ruled out following a surprise hamstring problem. Earlier this week, it appeared WR Greg Salas might be strong waiver wire pickup, and with Alexander going down and the porous defense of the Arizona Cardinals awaiting him, Alexander may be a great flex start this week.

For more news on the St. Louis Rams and all things St. Louis sports, stay tuned to SB Nation St. Louis. For more fantasy football updates and tips, keep an eye on SB Nation Fantasy Football.

Sam Bradford Injury Update: Limited In Practice On Friday, Remains Probable

Despite reports from earlier today suggesting the St. Louis Rams might downgrade quarterback Sam Bradford to doubtful, it appears the team has left him at probable:

@STLouisRams: Rams finish week of practice. QB Sam Bradford was limited in practice but did quite a bit in team drills. Listed as questionable

@STLouisRams: Rams and Bradford hopeful he'll be able to go but will most likely be a gametime decision.

The Rams have had to reshuffle their offensive playbook in the absence of Sam Bradford, relying on Brandon Lloyd to essentially carry their passing game.

If there were any week to let the star quarterback take some extra rest, Week 9 against the 1-6 Arizona Cardinals would be it. The Cardinals, coming off a 27-30 tough-loss to the Baltimore Ravens, have lost 6 consecutive games and may well be without their own starting quarterback, Kevin Kolb.

Expect the Rams to keep a close eye on Bradford in the coming days, but chances are he will miss this game.

For all breaking news St. Louis sports-related, stay tuned to SB Nation St. Louis. For more Rams commentary and analysis, check out Turf Show Times.

Sam Bradford Injury Update: St. Louis Rams QB Will 'Probably Sit'

After a second week of closely watching quarterback Sam Bradford's progress, St. Louis Rams fans may have more sad news:

@evansilva: ESPN's John Clayton on #Rams QB Sam Bradford: "Looks like he's gonna probably sit. ... Bradford is not in the lineup for St. Louis."

Yes, it appears Sam Bradford will be downgraded to doubtful later today after reportedly improving in yesterday's limited practice.

Bradford has missed two straight games for the Rams, who have installed veteran QB A.J. Feeley in his place. Oddly enough, though Bradford is the face of the franchise and one of the best players on the team, the Rams did not win at all with him at quarterback, getting their first win in Week 8 in an massive upset over the New Orleans Saints.

The Rams coaching staff will probably wait until closer to Sunday to make an official determination about Bradford's status, but at this point it appears unlikely he will play.

For all breaking news St. Louis sports-related, stay tuned to SB Nation St. Louis. For more Rams commentary and analysis, check out Turf Show Times.

Week 9 NFL Lines And Odds: St. Louis Rams Vs. Arizona Cardinals

The St. Louis Rams may be coming off an impressive upset of the New Orleans Saints last week, but the odds makers still don't like their chances against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.

St. Louis Rams Injury Report, Week 9: WR Danario Alexander Misses Practice, LB Brian Kehl Limited

The official St. Louis Rams Twitter account has released the details of today's practice:

@STLouisRams: WR Danario Alexander aggravated hamstring a bit yesterday and did not practice after he was limited Wednesday.

@STLouisRams: LB Bryan Kehl is battling an ankle injury. He was limited. RB Jerious Norwood also still battling hamstring injury, also very limited.

Alexander, the undrafted free agent out of the 2010 Draft, has suffered with a variety of injuries throughout his playing career and has also struggled to produce in the 2011 NFL season, catching only 16 passes through five starts.

Bryan Kehl played at the strong side linebacker position in last week's surprising win over the New Orleans Saints, but may able to play again this week against the Arizona Cardinals.

Meanwhile, Sam Bradford has practiced again, but was limited to drills.

Also appearing on the injury list, DT Darell Scott and RT Jason Smith continue to miss practice while recovering from concussions.

For the latest on the Rams, visit Turf Show Times, SB Nation's St. Louis Rams blog.

Sam Bradford Injury Update: St. Louis Rams QB Does Drills, Sits During Team Practice

The official St. Louis Rams Twitter reports Rams quarterback Sam Bradford practiced on Thursday, but was again limited:

@STLouisRams: Bradford did more work than he's done in a couple weeks, participating in individual drills and 7 on 7. No team work but progress.

The Rams have been starting quarterback A.J. Feeley in the place of Sam Bradford, who has missed two consecutive games in his second NFL season. The veteran Feeley has not played terribly in Bradford's absence, but the team is still anxious to get their franchise QB back.

Yesterday, Bradford indicated he was hopeful he could play in Week 9, where the Rams (1-6) face the Arizona Cardinals (1-6), and his improved participation has helped those chances. However, because he is still not taking snaps during the team practice, it is safe to assume he remains a game-time decision.

For more updates on the St. Louis sports, keep tuned to SBN St. Louis, and head to Turf Show Times for in-depth analysis and commentary on the St. Louis Rams.

St. Louis Rams Injury Report: Sam Bradford, Two Other Rams Miss Wednesday's Practice

After a certifiably promising rookie year, Sam Bradford’s sophomore season has been nothing short of underwhelming. The former No. 1 overall draft pick has missed the last two weeks (which included St. Louis’ shocking win last week against New Orleans) with an ankle injury and struggled in his first five starts. Those, of course, were all Rams losses in which the quarterback didn’t crack an 80 QB Rating.

Bradford is hopeful to play this week and says he’s improving.

“It actually feels pretty good walking around,” Bradford said. “Obviously, I haven’t come back and tested it with running and full-speed drops. Hopefully, I’ll do a little more tomorrow and we’ll see where it is by the end of the week.”

Defensive tackle Darell Scott was held out of Wednesday’s practice with a concussion, as was offensive tackle Jason Smith. Linebacker Brady Poppinga was limited with a calf injury.

For more updates on the St. Louis sports, keep tuned to SBN St. Louis, and head to Turf Show Times for in-depth analysis and commentary on the St. Louis Rams.

Arizona Cardinals Injury Report, Week 9: Kevin Kolb, Beanie Wells Miss Wednesday Practice

The Arizona Cardinals recently released their injury report for Wednesday, and five different players didn't participate in practices due to injuries.

Sam Bradford Injury Update: QB To Miss Practice On Wednesday

St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford's status remains day-to-day at this point for Sunday's game against the Arizona Cardinals, but Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo told reporters this morning that he won't be practicing on Wednesday. First reported by Kent Somers of The Arizona Republic, Spagnuolo added that he hopes to see progress from Bradford later this week. The former No. 1 overall pick has been battling a high ankle sprain for the past few weeks.

The Rams, now 1-6 on the season, have sorely missed their starting quarterback during his absence, especially given the team's need to evaluate him for the long-term. St. Louis is coming off a stunning upset victory over the Saints with back-up quarterback A.J. Feeley at the helm, but there's no doubt that they're a better team when Bradford is healthy and churning on all cylinders.

For more updates on the St. Louis sports, keep tuned to SBN St. Louis, and head to Turf Show Times for in-depth analysis and commentary on the St. Louis Rams.

Sam Bradford Injury: Life Without Bradford A Struggle For St. Louis Rams' New Offense

The St. Louis Rams' new offense was supposed to involve turning Sam Bradford's cannon of a throwing arm loose after a season in Pat Shurmur's straitjacketed pass attack, and through five games we saw some version of that offense, however deeply inconsistent it proved to be. Bradford's yards per attempt was identical to 2010's mark—6.0, still among the lowest in football—but his yards per completion had leapt by nearly a yard-and-a-half, moving toward mid-pack after a season as the only full-time starter in the NFL whose average completion went for fewer than 10 yards. 

No clearer picture of that offense emerged than on September 19, in which the Rams' Monday Night Football loss to the New York Giants featured an incredibly dynamic offense hidden by some incredibly terrible red zone play. Despite completing fewer than half his passes Bradford finished with his second highest Y/A mark of the season, thanks to a Y/C of 14. That's the Josh McDaniels offense—and it's the offense the Rams have decided to build at considerable opportunity cost. 

Without Bradford the Rams have had to go to A.J. Feeley, and while he won them their first game of the season Week 8 against New Orleans, he's served as nothing so much as a monumental regression to the days of Shurmurball, averaging an ugly 9.6 Y/C and an even less impressive 4.67 Y/A. 

There's something promising in all that mediocrity-by-necessity, though—it's only by the grace of new acquisition Brandon Lloyd that Feeley's averaging even that many yards per completed pass. In his 12 receptions in two weeks as a Ram Lloyd has averaged 10.6 yards on 12 receptions, including Feeley's only touchdown pass. 

As it turns out, Brandon Lloyd—a combination of actual wide receiver talent and complete familiarity with Josh McDaniels's offensive scheme—is good enough to make even A.J. Feeley look competent on his targets. That's something the Sam Bradford we saw in New York and Green Bay is going to have the chance to take advantage of, and it could prove to be all the difference in this 2011 Rams season. 

Sam Bradford Injury: St. Louis Rams QB Has No Boot, But Is Not Practicing

CBS Sports is reporting that St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford is no longer wearing a boot, but remains day-to-day with his high-ankle sprain. It appears the Rams will wait until at least Wednesday before they try to work their star quarterback into practice, leaving his status uncertain as to whether or not he can start this Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals.

The Rams (1-6) went without Bradford last Sunday against the New Orleans Saints, and quarterback A.J. Feeley -- with the help of a dominant Steven Jackson -- led the Rams to their first victory of the season. So, with the playoffs nearly out of reach this year and the team doing alright without Bradford, will likely err on the side of caution, resting Bradford this week if there's any sign of a setback.

For more updates on the St. Louis sports, keep tuned to SBN St. Louis, and head to Turf Show Times for in depth analysis and commentary on the St. Louis Rams.

Sam Bradford Injury: Bradford Out In St. Louis Rams Win, Still In Boot

The St. Louis Rams are still without injured star Sam Bradford, who has missed two games since suffering a high-ankle sprain.

Sam Bradford Injury: St. Louis Rams Rule Out Bradford For New Orleans Saints Game

The St. Louis Rams have made it official: The Sam Bradford injury -- a high ankle sprain -- will lead to another A.J. Feeley start on Sunday against the 5-2 New Orleans Saints. Bradford had been reduced to doubtful on Wednesday and then missed practice again on Thursday, leading many to suspect he would not be available on Sunday.

Bradford was not having a great year with the 0-6 Rams, passing for only a 72.1 passer rating, but given his supporting cast, it is not surprising. And though Sam Bradford gives the Rams the best chance of winning, Feeley, a 10-year veteran, has not played terribly through his first two games.

Hopefully, Feeley and the rest of the Rams can catch the Saints unawares and steal a win on Sunday.

For more updates on the St. Louis sports, keep tuned to SBN St. Louis, and head to Turf Show Times for in depth analysis and commentary on the St. Louis Rams.

Sam Bradford Injury Update: Rams' QB Officially Misses Practice Thursday, Could Practice Friday

The official Twitter of the St. Louis Rams has confirmed quarterback Sam Bradford missed practice today:

@STLouisRams: QB Sam Bradford (ankle) did not practice again. Status quo for now. Possible he could work out Friday again but not certain.

Unconfirmed reports appeared on Twitter earlier today, suggesting Bradford had indeed missed practice again. Now, the Rams have not only officially confirmed the continued injury, but suggested Friday could be out of the mix too.

The Rams take on the (5-2) New Orleans Saints on Sunday, and will at this point almost definitely turn once again to the services of veteran quarterback A.J. Feeley.

Bradford has been injured with a high ankle sprain for a week now, going on two. It is possible, though highly unlikely, he could play if he can participate in Friday's practice.

For more updates on the St. Louis sports, keep tuned to SBN St. Louis, and head to Turf Show Times for in depth analysis and commentary on the St. Louis Rams.

Sam Bradford Injury Update: St. Louis Rams' QB Misses Practice Thursday

The DraftDay Twitter account reported today that St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford missed practice again today, further lessening his chances of starting Week 8 against the New Orleans Saints. Bradford had previously missed practice earlier this week, but the Rams coaching staff continued to call his status probable.

If indeed Bradford cannot mend before Sunday's contest, the Ram should once again turn to A.J. Feeley in hopes the veteran can help them find their first win of the season. Feeley, who has started 17 games in his 10-year career, sports an unimpressive career passer rating of 69.1, but played admirably in the Rams' loss to the Dallas Cowboy.

Bradford suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 5 against the Green Bay Packers, missing a start for the first time in his career. Through the first half of the 2011 NFL season, the 0-6 Rams continue to have an injury list that dwarfs most NFL teams:

For more updates on the St. Louis sports, keep tuned to SBN St. Louis, and head to Turf Show Times for in depth analysis and commentary on the St. Louis Rams.

Sam Bradford Injury Update: QB Misses Wednesday Practice, Doubtful For Week 8

It's still not entirely clear whether St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford will be available for Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints, but it's becoming less likely each day. Bradford is still battling the high ankle injury that he suffered a couple weeks ago, and he missed practice on Wednesday while recovering from the injury.

On Monday, Bradford's status was described as questionable by Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo, , but it appears that we can downgrade his status to doubtful at this point given the lack of progress on his ankle. Bradford missed last Sunday's game against the Dallas Cowboys due the injury, and while A.J. Feeley was competent in his place, it's pretty clear that the Rams miss their star player.

Bradford's status for Sunday will presumably be a last-minute decision as the team hopes for an unexpectedly quick recovery, but it seems likely that Feeley will be behind center for the Rams on Sunday. This season has quickly become a lost cause for St. Louis, but getting Bradford back and healthy is paramount for the team's long-term success.

For the latest on the Rams, visit Turf Show Times, SB Nation's St. Louis Rams blog.

Sam Bradford Injury Update: Questionable For Week 8

St. Louis Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo spoke with the media this afternoon and offered a brief update on the status of injured quarterback Sam Bradford. Bradford has a high-ankle sprain that prevented him from playing in the Rams' game against Philadelphia on Sunday, and according to Spagnuolo, Bradford's return this week is questionable.

Bradford will not practice with the Rams on Tuesday and will be re-evaluated on Wednesday. If he can't go, the team will be forced to start A.J. Feeley for the second consecutive week. Feeley's start against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday was his first start in the NFL since 2007, and under the circumstances he wasn't bad, says Turf Show Times:

AJ Feeley was serviceable in replacement of Sam Bradford.  His stat line goes as so: 20/33, 195 yards, 0 TDs, 1 INT.  He wasn't good by any means, but he still played at a decent level considering this was his first game in a new system.

Still, the Rams were not competitive against the Cowboys, and it doesn't get any easier in week eight with the first place New Orleans Saints coming to town.

For more on Sam Bradford and the St. Louis Rams, visit Turf Show Times.

Sam Bradford Injury: St. Louis Rams Will Start A.J. Feeley Vs. Cowboys

Sam Bradford's injury will keep him out of Week 7's contest between the St. Louis Rams and the Dallas Cowboys.