Warner hopes to return in five weeks despite doctors' estimate

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- The doctors say Kurt Warner won't be back under center for the Rams for about two months, but the two-time MVP isn't paying any attention to their prognosis.

Warner figures it'll take just five weeks for the broken little finger on his throwing hand to heal.

"I believe that it's going to be sooner," Warner said. "Last time I was out for just five weeks and came back. So I'm believing that it'll be at least that quick if not quicker. I'm going to stand on that."

Warner broke the finger during the Rams' 13-10 loss last Sunday to Dallas, when he landed on his hand after he was hit during a safety blitz by Roy Williams. The injury was the latest blow for the struggling Rams, the defending NFC champions who at 0-4 are off to their worst start since 1963.

When Warner broke the same finger on his right hand two years ago, he missed five games. But doctors who performed surgery on Warner's finger this week said the latest injury will take longer to heal because the finger was broken in three places and was displaced.

"I'm going to do whatever I possibly can to get back as soon as possible," Warner said. "And that's all I can really do. They're throwing out these numbers way down the road, but I think they're just trying to be safe and we're going to prove them all wrong."

Warner was back at the Rams' practice facility the day after Tuesday's surgery, with his right arm in a large splint. He called breaking the smallest finger on his hand a second time surreal, given that it's the only injury that's caused him to miss a game in his career.

"But at the same time I'm going to fight through this and believe that it's going to heal quickly," Warner said.

The Rams are also holding out hope that Warner can beat the doctors' estimates. In his place, backup Jamie Martin will make his second career start against San Francisco on Sunday.

"They are very encouraged that it may not be quite as long as they initially expected," Rams coach Mike Martz said. "But we will have to wait and see how that goes."