Rams confident despite injuries

ST. LOUIS -- A sudden rash of injuries doesn't appear to be a huge concern for the St. Louis Rams, who returned to practice Wednesday a bit beat-up but still on top.

"That's why we have good backups," defensive coordinator Lovie Smith said. "Seventy thousand fans in the stadium don't want to hear that we have a couple of injuries."

The Rams (8-1) have the NFL's best record, but they also have a whopping 12 players listed on their injury report heading into Monday night's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-5). They've been hit hardest on the defensive line, with rookie tackle Damione Lewis placed on injured reserve Tuesday after surgery Monday for a broken foot and end Leonard Little, among the league leaders with nine sacks, out an estimated six weeks with a knee injury.

"Leonard being hurt, Damione being hurt, that really takes a big bite out of our defensive line," end Tyoka Jackson said. "But we think we've got a bunch of guys who can play different positions.

"I think we'll show a lot of versatility and we'll have to step up."

Meeting the challenge

Jackson, a former Bucs player, is one of the guys the Rams are hoping will embrace the challenge. Coach Mike Martz is counting on Jackson filling in for Little, who has more than one-third of the Rams' 25 sacks.

"When we've put him at defensive end, he's been very productive," Martz said. "He's not out there very much, but when he's been out there he's been able to pressure the quarterback very effectively."

Safety Adam Archuleta is doubtful with a severely sprained left ankle and backup linebacker Dustin Cohen, who's questionable, could be out a second straight week with a bruised knee.

Seven others are listed as probable, including running back Marshall Faulk (knee), linebackers Mark Fields (ankle) and Brian Allen (hamstring), tight end Ernie Conwell (shoulder), wide receiver Az-Zahir Hakim (ankle), offensive guard Tom Nutten (ankle) and backup cornerback Jacoby Shepherd (quad).

Most were held out of practice Wednesday, although Nutten, who missed last week's 24-17 victory over the Patriots, attempted to participate in some early drills. The Rams have an extra day to prepare, and Martz was hoping the players' day off on Thanksgiving would give some of the wounded a chance to heal.

"Some of these things will change in the next two days, like Adam's ankle," Martz said. "I think with some of these ankle injuries, we might be better off than what we expected a day or so ago.

"Let's just wait and see Friday when we come back, where things are."

Martz downplays situation

When addressing the players, Martz said he downplayed the injuries. The Rams were especially productive on defense without Little, Lewis, Archuleta and Fields down the stretch against the Patriots.

Among others, the Rams got a strong contribution from linebacker O.J. Brigance, signed only six days earlier.

This week, rookie tackle Ryan Pickett, the third of the Rams' first-round picks, will get a chance. Pickett, inactive the last three weeks and five of nine games overall, will be part of the three-man tackle rotation with Bryan Young and Jeff Zgonina.

"You just fill in and go, you fill in the ranks and you move on," Martz said. "It's no different than what happened with Trent Green.

"It's a chance for somebody to step forward and be counted on."

The Rams won the Super Bowl in 1999 after Green suffered a season-ending knee injury in a preseason game. That was Kurt Warner's cue.

"Everybody this time of year has someone go down," Smith said. "That's why we keep coaching the backups, for times like this."