SB Nation St. Louis - Rodger Saffold Injury: Rams OT's knee problems could persist through bye weekhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49009/stl-fave.png2012-11-07T08:39:12-06:00http://stlouis.sbnation.com/rss/stream/30702652012-11-07T08:39:12-06:002012-11-07T08:39:12-06:00Rams' Saffold returns to practice on Tuesday
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<p>St. Louis Rams left tackle Rodger Saffold participated in team drills for the first time since injuring his right knee in Week 2.</p> <p>The <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/st-louis-rams" class="sbn-auto-link">St. Louis Rams</a> received some great news Tuesday. Starting left tackle <span>Rodger Saffold</span> participated in team drills for the first time since injuring his knee, according to Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.</p>
<p>Saffold suffered a third-degree MCL sprain in his right knee against the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/washington-redskins" class="sbn-auto-link">Washington Redskins</a> in Week 2 and has not played since, slowly working toward a full recovery. It was the second major injury for Saffold this year after he strained his neck in the season opener against the <a href="https://www.prideofdetroit.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Detroit Lions</a>.</p>
<p>Saffold told Thomas that he felt great following practice on Tuesday and said he felt optimistic about playing this week. Saffold returning to the starting lineup would be a welcome sight for the Rams, considering Saffold's backup <span>Wayne Hunter</span> was unable to play against the <a href="https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Green Bay Packers</a> in St. Louis' last game. Third-stringer Joe Barksdale was forced to start in Hunter's place against the Packers.</p>
https://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-rams/2012/11/7/3612850/st-louis-rams-rodger-saffold-injuryKen DeCelles2012-11-07T08:00:47-06:002012-11-07T08:00:47-06:00Saffold, Wells could return as soon as Week 10
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<p>The St. Louis Rams' new-look offensive line has been sidelined for most of the season with injuries. Now Rodger Saffold and Scott Wells look close to actually playing together. </p> <p>If you've watched <span>Sam Bradford</span> this year you might not realize it, but the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/st-louis-rams">St. Louis Rams</a> actually did attempt to update their ineffectual offensive line before the 2012 season. They signed <span>Scott Wells</span>, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/">Green Bay Packers</a>' Pro Bowl center, to a four year, $24 million deal, and then they dumped draft bust <span>Jason Smith</span> and put <span>Rodger Saffold</span> on notice that he could be next.</p>
<p>Then the regular season started. Scott Wells broke a bone in his foot and Rodger Saffold <a target="_blank" href="http://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-rams/2012/9/15/3333834/rodger-saffold-injury-rams-vs-redskins">appeared to break his neck(!)</a>, came back earlier than anyone expected, and immediately sprained his MCL. It's been that kind of year, Rodger—we know.</p>
<p>Ever since, the Rams' offensive line has been just another question mark as we attempt to gauge the Rams' new offense and judge, two-and-a-half years into a checkered career, the progress Sam Bradford has made. In Week 10, though, after all the waiting, those pieces they invested in are starting to come back online. </p>
<p>Rodger Saffold, questionable for Week 8, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/saffold-optimistic-about-playing-sunday/article_125ff323-c0ec-50a8-a9f3-880087901351.html">told Jim Thomas he was optimistic </a>about returning to the field by Sunday's game against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.ninersnation.com/">San Francisco 49ers</a>. Wells, meanwhile, regained his eligibility after Week 8, thanks to the NFL's new injured-reserve rules; he hasn't returned to practice, yet, but Howard Balzer, on a tweeting frenzy after the Rams' Tuesday practice, says he might soon:</p>
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<p>Rams C Scott Wells, on IR/designated for return, is eligible to begin practicing. He was with team today; might practice Wednesday.</p>
— Howard Balzer (@HBalzer721) <a data-datetime="2012-11-06T23:14:13+00:00" href="https://twitter.com/HBalzer721/status/265955273926115328">November 6, 2012</a>
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<p>There it is: Good news about the St. Louis Rams' offensive line. It's the same news we had in the offseason—Scott Wells signed with the Rams, everybody!—but after 10 weeks of waiting for things to finally cohere like they were supposed to on opening day I'm ready to celebrate it all over again. </p>
https://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-rams/2012/11/7/3611536/st-louis-rams-offensive-line-injuriesDan Moore2012-10-24T12:08:36-05:002012-10-24T12:08:36-05:00Rodger Saffold could be a couple weeks away
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<p>Saffold won't be back this week, but could return after the Rams' bye next week.</p> <p><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/st-louis-rams" class="sbn-auto-link">St. Louis Rams</a> offensive tackle <span>Rodger Saffold</span> isn't likely to return for the team's game this weekend against the <a href="https://www.patspulpit.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New England Patriots</a> in London, but could return for the team's game in Week 10 following next week's bye, says <a href="http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/rams-notebook-bradford-starts-to-click-with-givens/article_563b0e89-96a0-5d88-9768-e365ad875339.html" target="_blank">the St. Louis Post-Dispatch</a>.</p>
<p>Saffold suffered a knee injury in Week 2 against the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/washington-redskins" class="sbn-auto-link">Washington Redskins</a> and hasn't played since. Saffold didn't practice last week and isn't likely to this week, either. Saffold was diagnosed with a <a href="http://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-rams/2012/9/18/3349728/rodger-saffold-injury-mcl-tear/in/3070265" target="_blank">third-degree MCL sprain</a>. He's avoided surgery to this point, which shows the Rams are hopeful to have him back this season. His replacement, <span>Wayne Hunter</span>, also didn't play last week against the <a href="https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Green Bay Packers</a>, leaving third-stringer Joe Barksdale to start at left tackle.</p>
<p>The Rams will need all the help they can get protecting <span>Sam Bradford</span>, who has been sacked 21 times in 2012. The bye week should help Saffold recover. The Patriots and Rams kick off at noon CT on Sunday.</p>
https://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-rams/2012/10/24/3548510/rodger-saffold-injury-updateKevin Jeffers2012-09-18T09:00:45-05:002012-09-18T09:00:45-05:00Rodger Saffold Injury Might Also Be Called An MCL Tear, Apparently
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<p>Me—well, when the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/st-louis-rams">St. Louis Rams</a> tell me the latest <span>Rodger Saffold</span> injury is an MCL sprain, and surgery won't be necessary, I like to bury my head in the sand and accept it. But I was talking with <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Brandon%20Worley">Brandon Worley</a> in the SB Nation Newsroom the other day (it's more a chatroom than a room-room, because we're like Web 3.5 by now) when he mentioned that a "<a href="http://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-rams/2012/9/17/3349120/rodger-saffold-injury-rams/in/3070265">third-degree MCL sprain</a>," the kind Saffold has, is also known as an "MCL tear."</p>
↵<p>There's more on that <a target="_blank" href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.physioroom.com%2Finjuries%2Fknee%2Fmedial_collateral_ligament_sprain_full.php&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fstlouis.sbnation.com%2Fst-louis-rams%2F2012%2F9%2F18%2F3349728%2Frodger-saffold-injury-mcl-tear" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener">here</a>, in which one PhysioRoom.com suggests that for third-degree sprains, in which "the ligament is completely ruptured, the treatment of choice is surgery to repair the structure."</p>
↵<p>This is not to say that the Rams are covering anything up, or that Rodger Saffold is likely to miss more than the month initially forecast for him—only that I'm a paranoid man, and this information gave me the nervous idea that the Rams are just trying to keep Rodger Saffold from the bitter truth, like a latter-day Big Daddy Pollitt, and that his knee will actually be amputated later in the week after his injury is rediagnosed as a fifth-degree MCL sprain.</p>
https://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-rams/2012/9/18/3349728/rodger-saffold-injury-mcl-tearDan Moore2012-09-17T17:09:30-05:002012-09-17T17:09:30-05:00Rodger Saffold Injury: Rams OT Has MCL Sprain
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<p><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/st-louis-rams" class="sbn-auto-link">St. Louis Rams</a> offensive tackle <span>Rodger Saffold</span> has a third-degree MCL sprain, <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/SoftliSTL">according to Tony Softli of Rams Radio Network</a>. The timeline for his return was not immediately clear.</p>
<p>Saffold suffered the left kneee injury during the second possession of Sunday's win over the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/washington-redskins" class="sbn-auto-link">Washington Redskins</a> and was not able to return, after attempting to run the ball following a <span>Sam Bradford</span> fumble when he was injured. <span>Wayne Hunter</span>, a nine-year veteran, took Saffold's spot on the Rams offensive line.</p>
<p>Rams coach Jeff Fisher stated that Saffold's injury is not season-ending.</p>
<p>This is the second injury for Saffold in as many weeks, after he suffered a sprained neck in the first game of the season against the <a href="https://www.prideofdetroit.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Detroit Lions</a> and had to be carted off the field. He returned to practice on Wednesday before the game against Washington.</p>
<p><i>For more on Saffold's injury and all your Rams news, check out <a href="http://www.turfshowtimes.com/">Turf Show Times</a>.</i></p>
https://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-rams/2012/9/17/3349120/rodger-saffold-injury-ramsBrandon Worley2012-09-16T16:33:52-05:002012-09-16T16:33:52-05:00Rodger Saffold Injury: Rams Tackle Injures Left Knee, Will Not Return
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<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/st-louis-rams">St. Louis Rams</a> offensive tackle <span>Rodger Saffold</span> was knocked out of his team's game against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/washington-redskins">Washington Redskins</a> on Sunday with a left knee injury. Saffold was injured on the Rams' second possession and will not return.</p>
<p>Saffold was injured in the first quarter after a <span>Sam Bradford</span> fumble. Saffold recovered and carried the ball seven yards before being tackled. The third-year player out of Indiana crumpled to the turf and had to be helped off the field. It was unclear whether or not he would be able to return, and Saffold has since been ruled out for the remainder of the game. <span>Wayne Hunter</span>, a nine-year veteran, took Saffold's place on the Rams' line.</p>
<p>This marks the second consecutive week that Saffold has been forced out of action due to injury. Last week against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.prideofdetroit.com/">Detroit Lions</a>, he had to be carted off and taken to a hospital after suffering a sprained neck. He returned to practice on Wednesday and was activated prior to Sunday's game.</p>
<p><i>For more on Saffold's injury and all your Rams news, check out <a href="http://www.turfshowtimes.com/">Turf Show Times</a>.</i></p>
https://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-rams/2012/9/16/3343202/rodger-saffold-injury-st-louis-rams-left-kneeChris Fuhrmeister2012-09-15T07:30:08-05:002012-09-15T07:30:08-05:00Rodger Saffold Injury Leaves St. Louis Rams' Offensive Line (Theoretically) Questionable
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<p><span>Rodger Saffold</span> has been <a target="_blank" href="http://stlouis.sbnation.com/2012/9/12/3324056/rams-injury-report-rodger-safford-practice/in/3070265">practicing since Wednesday</a>, and of late he's been a full participant. Going into Week 3 vs. the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/washington-redskins">Washington Redskins</a> he's the only thing standing between the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/st-louis-rams">St. Louis Rams</a>, who've already lost <span>Scott Wells</span> and rookie Rokevious Watson, and an offensive line meltdown. And somehow, he's still listed as questionable on the St. Louis Rams' injury report. That's legitimate, inasmuch as he's a week removed from the filming of this terrifying animated GIF:</p>
↵<p><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1348671/saffold.gif"></p>
↵<p>But given his practicing, the gradual decline in worry over his neck strain, and the Rams' lack of other options—they've already pulled <span>Quinn Ojinnaka</span> back onto the roster and into the starting o-line—I would be very surprised indeed if Rodger Saffold doesn't start in front of <span>Sam Bradford</span> for Week 2.The Rams need him too much to let him practice but then hold him out on gameday, unless the team doctors really think it'll make a difference as to his future health. Right now this seems like a minor attempt at gamesmanship from Jeff Fisher, and little more.</p>
↵<p>Which is to say that he's <i>questionable</i>—I just don't think he's <i>very</i> questionable.</p>
https://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-rams/2012/9/15/3333834/rodger-saffold-injury-rams-vs-redskinsDan Moore2012-09-14T14:27:35-05:002012-09-14T14:27:35-05:00Rodger Saffold Injury: Rams LT Questionable Vs. Redskins
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<p>The <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/st-louis-rams" class="sbn-auto-link">St. Louis Rams</a> have listed left tackle <span>Rodger Saffold</span> as "questionable" heading into Sunday's game against the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/washington-redskins" class="sbn-auto-link">Washington Redskins</a>, <a href="http://www.kansascity.com/2012/09/14/3815124/bucs-re-sign-ol-hardman-cut-dl.html" target="_blank">according to STLToday.com</a>.</p>
<p>Saffold suffered a strained neck in last week's game against the <a href="https://www.prideofdetroit.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Detroit Lions</a> when he became entangled with safety John Wending and fell awkwardly. The tackle was carted off the field for precautionary reasons but reported movement in his arms and legs shortly afterward. A CT scan revealed he had a strained neck.</p>
<p><span>Sam Bradford</span> was sacked four times in the loss to the Lions and that concern will be prevalent once again against the Redskins. The Rams quarterback was sacked seven times in last season's game against Washington, a 17-10 loss in the fourth week of the season.</p>
<p>The Rams face the Redskins this Sunday in the first home game of the season for St. Louis, with optimism building after a good performance by Jeff Fisher's team on the road against Detroit in the season opener.</p>
<p><i>For more news and information on the Rams, read <b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.turfshowtimes.com/">Turf Show Times</a>.</b> For the latest on the Redskins, check out <b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.hogshaven.com/2012/9/13/3323942/hogs-haven-week-2-staff-picks#storyjump">Hogs Haven.</a> </b>For everything NFL-related, check out </i><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl" target="_blank"><b><i>SB Nation's NFL Hub.</i></b></a></p>
https://stlouis.sbnation.com/2012/9/14/3333490/rodger-saffold-injury-rams-vs-redskins-2012Brandon Worley