By Cedric Williams
(Credit, Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Announced as “day-to-day” earlier in the week by head coach Jeff Fisher, St. Louis Rams rookie wide receiver Tavon Austin missed practice again on Thursday, and was seen watching from the sideline with a walking boot on his injured left ankle, creating more doubt as to whether he’ll play or not this Sunday, when the Rams host the New Orleans Saints at the Edward Jones Dome.
Austin didn’t practice on Wednesday either, and hasn’t appeared on the field at all since suffering the injury late in the third quarter of last Sunday’s 30-10 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
Fisher didn’t offer any updates on Austin’s status, but with only one practice left before the New Orleans game, if Austin isn’t able to participate in Friday’s workout, he almost certainly won’t be able to play on Sunday.
Cornerback Janoris Jenkins has also not practiced this week. The second-year man out of North Alabama has a bad back, and like Austin, is in danger of not playing on Sunday.
That would be a tough blow for a Rams club that’s already low on numbers in the secondary, especially with the NFL’s second-best passing team coming to town in the Saints.
“Somebody has to step up and be the leader now, and they have to develop at a faster rate,” defensive coordinator Tim Walton said. “Our job as coaches is to keep trying to push that and coach them and keep working with them and help with their development, to escalate their development as soon as we can. I think some guys are starting to do that.”
Right guard Harvey Dahl sat out on Thursday as well. The veteran lineman played his first game last Sunday since suffering a knee injury back in October, and he was able to practice on Wednesday.
Again, the Rams didn’t offer any information about Dahl’s injury except to say it was related to his knee.
Bench players Brandon McGee (foot) and Daryl Richardson (thigh) were also listed on the Rams injury report.
Both players sat out Wednesday, but McGee was a full participant in practice on Thursday.
For the Saints, rookie offensive lineman Terron Armstead (nose), a local product from Cahokia (Ill.) High, practiced for the first time on Thursday, after sitting out on Wednesday.
Starting defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley (back) practiced on a limited basis on Thursday, after sitting out on Wednesday.
St. Louis Rams Injury Report
Player ………………… Pos … Injury
- Tavon Austin ………. WR ….Ankle
- Harvey Dahl ……….. OG ….Knee
- Janoris Jenkins …… CB ….Back
- Daryl Richardson …. RB ….Thigh
- Brandon McGee ….. CB ….Foot
New Orleans Saints Injury Report
- Terron Armstead …. OT …. Nose
- Brodrick Bunkley …. DT ….Back
- Rafael Bush ………… S …..Ankle
- Keyunta Dawson … LB …. Calf
- Josh Hill …………….. TE ….Hamstring
- Glenn Foster ………. DE …. Knee
For more Rams news and updates, visit Rams Central.
Cedric Williams, a lifelong St. Louisan and proud UMSL alum, has been a freelance reporter/photographer covering St. Louis area sports for nearly two decades. Most recently, he has been working as a credentialed beat writer covering the Rams and small-school college sports for Examiner.com and other outlets from around the area. Please share any comments, questions, or feedback with Cedric at cedricwilliams510@gmail.com. His work can be found on Examiner.com.