Sam Bradford Wants To Play Through Injury, St. Louis Rams Less Keen About The Idea

Sam Bradford Injury Update: Rams' QB Wants To Come Back This Season

Despite fighting a high left ankle sprain and facing the prospect of playing behind a tattered offensive line for a two-win team, St. Louis Rams QB Sam Bradford said on Tuesday that he still wants to play this season.

I've told Coach [Steve Spagnuolo] that I'm trying to get my ankle as healthy as quick as possible. I want to be out there as soon as it's good enough to go. I expect to be on the field.

Sam Bradford Injury: Kellen Clemens Passable In St. Louis Rams Debut

Sam Bradford's high ankle sprain might mean the St. Louis Rams will be without their franchise quarterback for the rest of the season, but if it's any consolation Kellen Clemens, the Rams' third-string quarterback for less than two weeks, did a fine impression of the 2010 version of Bradford, with Josh McDaniels's simplified offense having a Pat Shurmur-ized and ultimately unsuccessful tenor to it. Clemens finished the game 25-for-36 for 229 yards and a late touchdown to perennial wide receiver hope Danario Alexander. 

Clemens's apparent lack of arm strength and minute chance of actually being able to learn the offense over the last two weeks of the season makes a Ridiculous Quarterback Controversy unlikely, which is good news unless you were looking for interesting happenings at all cost. But he was likely good enough to prevent the Tom Brandstater Era in St. Louis Rams football.

As for Bradford, he stood on the sidelines in a boot and a not-especially-flattering full beard; if he's on his way to a surprising appearance in Week 16, he didn't look it in Week 15. 

Sam Bradford Injury: Bradford Out For Season, According To Report

St. Louis Rams QB Sam Bradford has been dealing with a high ankle sprain for most of the 2011 season, but it seems as if his misery is finally over. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter on Sunday morning, Bradford is likely to be shut down for the rest of the year as the Rams finish out a disappointing season that started with the team as favorites to win the NFC West.

It's been an especially trying season for Bradford, who, if he is indeed done for the season, will finish with only six touchdowns to go along with six interceptions and a QB rating of 70.5. Along with his own injury, Bradford has seen both of his starting tackles go out for the year, and the conventional wisdom is that it makes little sense for the Rams to put their injured franchise quarterback under center behind a patchwork line for a 2-11 team.

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Sam Bradford Injury: QB Misses Practice Thursday

Rams quarterback Sam Bradford missed another day of practice Thursday, as did the man who replaced him, A.J. Feeley. Fortunately for those players and the Rams, they have a little extra time since their Week 14 game is not until Monday night. Feeley is more than likely out for Monday's game against Seattle anyway, but there is some hope for Bradford's return.

The Rams are already doing what they can to prepare for the worst, as they've signed Matt Gutierrez to the practice squad and claimed Kellen Clemens off of waivers. Clemens was waived by Houston after the Texans signed Jake Delhomme and Jeff Garcia.

Reserve QB Tom Brandstater, who has been taking the reps in practice, would most likely get the start should Bradford and Feeley be unavailable.

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Sam Bradford Injury: Rams Claim Kellen Clemens Off Waivers For Depth

The St. Louis Rams are badly in need of additional depth at quarterback, and ESPN's Adam Schefter is reporting that they have claimed Kellen Clemens off waivers from the Houston Texans to address that. The move obviously does little to replace Sam Bradford, but it does mean that the team likely won't need to turn to Matt Gutierrez this week if something happens on the field.

Clemens, 28, had spent the first five years of his career with the New York Jets before joining Houston for the 2011 season. The Texans recently waived Clemens, though, and the Rams put in a claim. He hasn't played since throwing two passes in a 2010 game for New York, and hasn't seen significant NFL playing time since 2007. 

In his career, Clemens has appeared in 25 games, completing 147 of 284 passes, good for a 51.8 completion rate. His five touchdowns and 11 interceptions are also underwhelming numbers, all of which contribute to a brutal 59.6 career QB rating. So while Clemens certainly does provide them with another quarterback, it doesn't appear that he'll provide them a good quarterback, or even an adequate one.

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Sam Bradford Injury: St. Louis Rams Uncertain About Starter, Try Out Backups

The St. Louis Rams are entirely out of quarterback depth with Sam Bradford's injury lingering.