Little likely will miss home opener vs. Giants

ST. LOUIS -- After getting burned for 522 yards in the season opener, the St. Louis Rams will likely go against the New York Giants without starting defensive end Leonard Little.

Little left last week's 38-3 loss at Philadelphia on the fourth play with a hamstring injury. His playing status remains unknown.

"I might not even play at all," Little said Thursday. "It's going to be a matter of how I feel on Saturday. Right now, I'm trying to get back. I'm rehabbing it and trying to get back as quick as I can."

Little has not practiced this week. The 33-year-old missed the last nine games of 2007 with a toe injury that required surgery. He had a good training camp and played during the preseason.

Now, he's hurt again, but Little said he isn't frustrated.

"Not really," said Little, the Rams' career sack leader with 75. "This is the NFL. Stuff happens. This isn't college football or high school football. You pull a muscle. Injuries happen. You deal with it and you move on."

St. Louis will have its home opener Sunday against the defending Super Bowl champion Giants. The club also will honor its late owner, Georgia Frontiere, before the game.

Players acknowledged the fans have become restless after last year's 3-13 record. In some games last season, opponents had more fans in the Edward Jones Dome than the Rams did.

Chuckling, Little acknowledged he didn't know how the fans will react when the team plays the Giants.

"Hopefully, our fans can stay behind us. We had a rough start in Philly. Hopefully, they'll cheer us on," Little said. "We've just got to get a win somehow. That's the most important thing right now. Everybody knows that."

Jackson has had his ups and downs with the fans. He was critical last year of music played at the stadium. He also criticized the fans who sold their tickets, and the fans voiced their displeasure with him.

He also knows his holdout for a $44 million contract wasn't popular.

"At this point, it doesn't mean anything, either boos or cheers," Jackson said. "I just have to go out and focus and be in the zone of executing my job. I just know my parents will be there, and I'm going to be happy to see them.

"St. Louis is used to winners. Who knows what the reception will be? We as players have to remain calm. We can't get down on ourselves."