Pace done for year; Fisher out at least one month

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Rams left Sunday's loss at Seattle knowing they'd have to replace at least one injured starter, All-Pro offensive tackle Orlando Pace.

On Monday, they found out they have two holes to fill.

Cornerback Travis Fisher will be sidelined at least a month with a broken right forearm, an injury that will move first-round pick Tye Hill into the lineup. Fisher was hurt tackling Seahawks fullback Mack Strong after a short catch in the third quarter.

Pace injured his left arm on an innocent-looking pass block in the second quarter.

"I felt something snap a little bit," Pace said. "I thought my elbow might have been dislocated or something like that, but when I got to the sideline, they told me it was a torn triceps."

Pace likely faces surgery and a six-month recovery period. He was the first overall pick of the 1997 draft and has been selected to seven consecutive Pro Bowls. Sunday was Pace's 143rd game for the Rams in his 10-year career.

"That's tough luck there," Rams coach Scott Linehan said.

Linehan said he was pondering whether to switch right tackle Alex Barron, the team's first-round pick last year, to Pace's spot on the left side. Barron played there in college.

If that move is made, Adam Goldberg, who filled in after Pace was hurt Sunday, would likely move to the right side. Barron, a first-round pick last year, has gotten high marks except for a rash of penalties.

During his rookie year, he was the most-penalized player in the NFL with 18 calls, nearly all of them for false starts. This season, he has been whistled for eight false starts, six in the last three games.

"He was receptive to the thought of moving," Rams offensive coordinator Greg Olson said. "Whether we do that or not, who knows~"

Todd Steussie, the starter at left guard, also could move to tackle. But Linehan believes he's more comfortable at guard.

"We're going to sleep on it," Linehan said. "Those things are all kind of going round and round, what's best.

"Moving two guys, you get concerned about having two position changes, but that's what we're dealt with right now."

Goldberg, acquired in a trade with the Vikings, started against the Lions in Week 4 when Pace was sidelined with a concussion. Offensive coordinator Greg Olson described his play on Sunday after replacing Pace as "adequate."

"He started slow but he got up to speed, I think," Olson said. "The game was a little fast for him, but as he settled in, we thought he played better and actually finished pretty strong.

"He wasn't the reason why we lost," Olson said. "He's a solid, adequate veteran player that's got experience playing all of the positions, so he's valuable to us in that regard."

Linehan said Fisher's fracture didn't show up on original medical tests,. A CT scan on Monday revealed the break.

"How long hasn't been determined," Linehan said. "But it could be up to four or five weeks at this point."

Hill has made two starts when the Rams opened games in a nickel package. Safety Corey Chavous will likely move to that spot.

"I think Tye Hill is playing better and better every week," defensive coordinator Jim Haslett said.

Linebacker Raonall Smith required nearly 30 stitches to his upper lip and also chipped teeth covering the Rams' second kickoff of the game, and was scheduled to see an oral surgeon.