Sehorn out up to 10 weeks

MACOMB, Ill. -- Rams free safety Jason Sehorn broke his left foot during a non-contact drill Sunday and is expected to be out until October.

Sehorn was carted off the field about 30 minutes before the end of practice. X-rays revealed a fracture of the fifth metatarsal.

Trainer Jim Anderson said Sehorn landed awkwardly on the foot after being pushed from behind, apparently by linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa. He is expected to miss about 10 weeks. Surgery will be done Monday, and a screw will be inserted to help the healing process.

"I feel bad for Jason," coach Mike Martz said. "He was doing so well. He fit in so well, and it looked like he was making an awful lot of plays.

"It's just one of those freak things that happened."

Sehorn left the New York Giants and signed a $1 million free-agent deal with the Rams. He was expected to be the starter. Martz said Sehorn, a cornerback for the first nine years of his career, had made an easy transition to the new position.

"In my opinion, that's where he belonged all along," Martz said. "He's what the doctor ordered, really."

A good start to camp

After the morning practice Sunday, Sehorn said the transition had been going well.

"For the most part, playing free safety is so much easier than playing cornerback," Sehorn said. "At safety you're not asked to cover anybody one-on-one a lot.

"You're making up for people's mistakes or helping out."

Kim Herring, who's started the last two seasons, now becomes the starter with Nick Sorensen and Steve Bellisari competing for the backup job. Earlier in camp, Martz praised Herring for accepting his role.

"Kim's had a great camp," Martz said. "He's having the best camp he's had so far, by far and away better.

"He's adjusted well, and I think Jason being here has helped him."

Martz said the Rams don't intend to look for free agents to help fill the void.

"We have what we need right here," Martz said. "We have plenty of depth, and quality depth."

Sehorn was a 1994 second-round draft pick out of Southern California. He had a combined 11 interceptions in 1996 and 1997, but seriously injured his right knee on a kickoff return in an exhibition game and missed the 1998 season.

Sehorn has started 73 of his 107 NFL games, including five last season.

He has 422 career tackles, 19 interceptions, 10 fumble recoveries and three forced fumbles.

Martz said Sehorn's injury is similar to one sustained by fullback James Hodgins last August in a preseason game. Hodgins was sidelined for eight games in a nine-week period, including the final preseason game.

Anderson said it's possible Sehorn, who weighs 218 pounds, could return quicker than Hodgins, who weighs 270.

"Obviously there's less stress because of the less weight," Anderson said. "But bones take 6 to 8 weeks to heal, and then it's going to take a few weeks of him running and cutting and getting back to playing the position."