Battered Rams will stay with Bulger

ST. LOUIS -- The winless St. Louis Rams added several players to an already lengthy injury list Monday. Quarterback Marc Bulger, nursing two broken ribs and coming off the first sub-50 percent passing day of his career, was not one of them.

Coach Scott Linehan on Monday had no thought this week of resting Bulger, who has thrown four interceptions, totaled 230 yards passing and produced zero touchdowns the last two weeks while operating behind an injury-riddled line. The Rams have a capable backup in Gus Frerotte, but Linehan is banking on Bulger's track record helping the team escape its spiral.

"Logic sometimes isn't always the answer for a number of reasons," Linehan said. "I go back on past experience with the player and he's played extremely well.

"We've got to get him playing good again, that's a big part of what we've got to do. And he's getting healthier."

Bulger was lifted late in the third quarter of Sunday's 35-7 loss to the Cowboys after going 11 of 24 for 114 yards. Both he and the coaching staff refuse to use the rib injuries as an excuse.

"Marc says, 'Hey, I can go,"' offensive coordinator Greg Olson said. "I believe in Marc Bulger and I believe his word.

"As you go back and review the tape, often times there's not a lot of time for him back there."

The 0-4 Rams have totaled two offensive touchdowns in four games, starting slow and now hobbled by injuries to five offensive linemen.

The latest loss: offensive tackle Adam Goldberg, a replacement starter the last two weeks, will be out a month with a left knee ligament strain.

The team was awaiting MRI exam results on wide receiver Isaac Bruce (left hamstring strain), safety Corey Chavous (left pectoral), defensive ends James Hall (pectoral) and Leonard Little (right knee), and linebacker Raonall Smith (right knee).

Wide receiver Dane Looker, also the holder for field goals and extra points, was kept in Dallas for a deep thigh bruise that could incur further damage with a flight home.

"There's an old saying, 'It is what it is,"' Linehan said. "I guess that's where we're at right now.

"There's not a whole lot to say other than relive and rehash the last four weeks as to how we got here."

So far, it has all unraveled. Even normally reliable kicker Jeff Wilkins, nicknamed "Money," has gone awry with three missed field goals the last two weeks, botching a 28-yard attempt on Sunday.

"The one I never thought we would have been struggling would be at that position," Linehan said. "It just goes to show you he's human."

One bit of positive news: the imminent return of cornerback Fakhir Brown after serving a four-game suspension for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy. Both Linehan and defensive coordinator Jim Haslett said that Brown would start this week ahead of Lenny Walls, who was burned for two touchdowns by the Cowboys.