Haslett Blames Holdout For S-Jax Injury

From Steve Korte of The News-Democrat:

ST. LOUIS — St. Louis Rams coach Jim Haslett said running back Steven Jackson’s thigh injury was an example of how missing training camp can come back to haunt a player.

“Guys don’t go to training camp, and when they come back, they either pull a hip flexor, groin, something, and you hope it’s nothing major that keeps them out,” Haslett said. “You hope it’s one of those one-week injuries, four or five days and they come back, but it happens all the time.”

Jackson will sit out for the fourth time in five games this Sunday against the Chicago Bears because of a strained quadriceps muscle in his right leg that he suffered on Oct. 19 against the Dallas Cowboys.

Haslett said Jackson’s injury is related to him missing the first 27 days of the preseason, including all of the team’s training camp in Mequon, Wis., in a contract holdout.

“You can run all you want, you can lift weights all you want, but until you put pads on and you actually cut and move at full speed, you can’t replicate that until you actually do it,” Haslett said. “It’s like guys that are in great shape and they go out and try to play basketball, they die after the first couple games because they’re just not used to doing it. I believe that.

“That goes back to when I was playing. Guys that don’t go to training camp get hurt.”

Haslett said he’s surprised that Jackson has been sidelined so long.

“Yeah, I really am, but again I don’t know the nature of the injury, and (I) didn’t really understand it completely until really this week,” Haslett said. “I’m kind of mystified by it, but again I’ve never had one of those personally, so I don’t know how to handle it. Someone asked me about a hamstring, (I said) ‘I’ve never had one, I wasn’t fast enough to pull a hamstring.”‘

Haslett said Jackson, who missed four games last season because of a groin injury, needs to look into adjusting his offseason regimen to avoid injuries.

“That’s something that I can sit with the strength coaches and nutritionist people and make sure that whatever he’s doing, we have a good regimen for him so we can cut those out,” Haslett said. “Because he had the groin last year, he had a quad this year, so obviously it’s soft tissue. It’s not broken bones or any of that, thank God, but whatever it is we have to make sure we fix it.

“Give him the best chance to play 16 games, so he can be productive.”

Injury report

Haslett is optimistic that left tackle Orlando Pace will be back playing sooner than later.

Pace was estimated to miss two to four weeks with a knee injury.

“I think Orlando will be ready to play in a week or two,” Haslett said. “He might be ready next week. He was out there jogging today. I thought he did a pretty good job and he’s going to get a brace and put that on.

“I would say based off what I know of Orlando and what I saw today, hopefully two weeks, but you never know.”

Rams right guard Richie Incognito said an MRI showed no structural damage in his left shoulder.

Incognito said he has a full range of motion and full strength in the shoulder.

“Everything is looking good from a structural standpoint,” Incognito said. “It’s just sore from the game. It’s just a battle of soreness right now.”

Incognito didn’t take part in practice Wednesday, but he said he’ll try to get some work today.

Asked if he’ll play this Sunday against the Chicago Bears, Incognito said, “Oh, I’ll play.”

Roster move

The Rams signed former Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive tackle Anthony Davis to provide depth for their offensive line.

The 6-foot-4, 322-pound Davis started every game at left tackle for the Buccaneers in 2005 and 2006.

“We think he can play right guard or tackle,” Haslett said. “He is a guy that is proven. He has played in the league and has done well in the league.

“He tore a pectoral muscle this offseason, and he never really came around. That is why he was available now, but he looks fine and we just have to monitor what he is doing lifting wise. I think he is a pretty good athlete as well. (Running backs coach) Art Valero had him in Tampa, so that kind of helps us. He is a great kid.”

Davis lost his starting spot at left tackle when the Buccaneers signed Luke Petitgout before the 2007 season. He moved to left guard, but he was beaten out for the starting job by Arron Sears.

Davis was cut by the Buccaneers on Oct. 25.

“They had a heck of a young guy that they brought in, and I guess he beat me out for the starting job at guard,” Davis said. “I ended up being a swing guy. I think it was best for both of us that I got released, and they can go on and do what they have to do, and I get a fresh new start.”