Clemens likely to get start at QB for Rams

ST. LOUIS -- Sam Bradford is not expected to play in the St. Louis Rams' finale.

The quarterback missed another practice Wednesday and didn't appear optimistic about his chances against the San Francisco 49ers. The biggest change, rather than the high left ankle sprain that already has sidelined him for five games, was the fact he was clean shaven after growing a beard since the start of November.

"It's still not where I think our training staff would like it to be," Bradford said. "This week was really the first time we had really done much, and to be honest, it didn't feel great in the little that we did do."

Bradford said he pushed it with trainers Monday and Tuesday and the ankle didn't respond well. He appeared only somewhat hopeful it would improve enough by game day. It was noticeable that Bradford was favoring the left ankle as he walked.

"It just didn't feel right, so we're not going to do anything until we get over that hump," Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo said. "But we're still optimistic that maybe we can get him there."

It's unlikely the Rams (2-13) will give Bradford any practice reps until Friday, and then only if he clears it with the trainers. He made a quick comeback after missing two games in midseason, making four consecutive starts, but has played in only one of the past four games since reinjuring the ankle.

"It's been very frustrating," Bradford said. "Especially the fact that I was able to come back and play three or four games and it was getting better. It was starting to feel better. It was starting to feel like it was, obviously not normal, but getting closer to normal. Then after the second time that I reinjured it, it's just really never overcome that."

Bradford was the NFL offensive rookie of the year on last year's 7-9 team that played for the NFC West championship in the final week, but he has only six touchdown passes to go with six interceptions this season.

The team has been ravaged by injuries, losing top receiver Danny Amendola in the opener and three linemen finishing the season on injured reserve. Bradford has taken his lumps in new offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels' system, which has a lot of longer-developing pass plays than the Rams had in 2010 under Pat Shurmur.

St. Louis has scored an NFL-low 166 points and could land the No. 1 draft pick for the second time in three seasons if the Rams lose their seventh in a row and the Colts win at Jacksonville.

It'll be several more weeks before backup A.J. Feeley's fractured thumb heals to the point he can grip a football, so Kellen Clemens could get his third consecutive start Sunday.

Clemens passed for just 91 yards in last week's 27-0 loss at Pittsburgh. The Rams squandered their few scoring opportunities against one of the NFL's top defenses.