Warner stretches for long passes on second throwing day

ST. LOUIS -- Kurt Warner's second day throwing the football went much better than the first.

The Rams' quarterback, limited to 10- to 15-yard tosses on Thursday, stretched his arm on 30-yard throws Friday as he continues to recover from a broken pinkie.

Warner, who had four pins removed from the finger Monday and has missed four games, remains certain he'll return for the Nov. 18 matchup against Chicago.

"He had a lot more zip on the ball," coach Mike Martz said. "There was tremendous improvement from yesterday to today. It kind of surprised him, too, that he had kind of control."

Martz said Warner wouldn't come back until he's fully recovered. The Rams (4-5) haven't lost with Marc Bulger, the former third-string quarterback. Bulger again will get the call on Sunday against the San Diego Chargers.

"Maybe it'll be two or three weeks. I don't know, and I'm not going to worry about it," Martz said. "Marc's going good, we're going good right now. He's not going to come back until he's 100 percent."

Warner said there was quite a bit of pain Thursday, but not nearly as much on Friday.

"I know it's going to take a few days to get all the soreness out of there," Warner said. "I had four metal objects in their for five weeks."

Warner was "very optimistic" after throwing for about a half-hour. He said he threw twice as many balls as the first day back.

"I could really push it today," he said. "I definitely think next week."