Thomas will return from groin injury

ST. LOUIS -- Two weeks off to rest a groin injury was enough to get St. Louis Rams middle linebacker Robert Thomas back in the lineup.

Thomas returned to practice last week but was held out of a 36-0 shutout of the Atlanta Falcons on Monday night. That break, combined with the bye week, enabled an injury that dated to the preseason to heal sufficiently.

"It definitely helped," Thomas said Thursday. "What the injury needed was time, and it got time, and I'm pretty much healed up."

Jamie Duncan, a disappointment last year as the starter, played in Thomas' place against the Falcons and had his first sack ever with the Rams. That was the first start of this season for Duncan, the special teams captain.

The Rams still will limit Thomas' involvement somewhat. Martz said outside linebacker Tommy Polley would continue to play in nickel coverage, as he did Monday, stepping in for Thomas.

Rookie wide receiver Kevin Curtis, the team's third-round pick who broke his left leg in the preseason, practiced Thursday.

"We're trying to get him a couple of days of really good practice and see where is on Saturday morning," Martz said. "It would be good to have him. We could use him."

The secondary is a bit needy with Adam Archuleta (sprained ankle) questionable and Jason Sehorn still out with a broken foot sustained in training camp.

-- AP