Rams WR Donnie Avery hurts knee

**Colts01** · 08-27-2010, 12:16 PM

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- St. Louis Rams receiver Donnie Avery left an exhibition game against the New England Patriots with a right knee injury

Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo was not positive when asked about Avery's diagnosis.

"Donnie probably has a significant knee injury," Spagnuolo said after the Rams' 36-35 win. "We will know a little bit more when we get the tests."

Avery, who led Rams wide receivers with 47 catches last year, was hurt with 1:32 left in the first half Thursday night. He jumped for Sam Bradford's long pass down the right sideline, fell and clutched his right knee as the ball dropped incomplete.

Before Avery was carted off the field, Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker went over and extended his hand. Welker is playing again after having surgery for a torn ligament in his left knee in February.

Avery, a second-round draft pick out of Houston in 2008, had 53 receptions as a rookie and started 28 games in his first two seasons. He caught 2 passes for 48 yards Thursday before being injured.

**ThisDougsForU** · 08-27-2010, 12:20 PM

Yeah, his knee is blown out. He started clutching it before he even went down. While I feel bad for Donnie Avery, he's never been able to stay healthy. I'd rather this just happen now so they can plan accordingly.

"Vincent Jackson? Good Afternoon, this is Stan Kroenke."

**GBPKS** · 08-27-2010, 02:54 PM

Originally Posted by ThisDougsForU

"Vincent Jackson? Good Afternoon, this is Stan Kroenke."

That's actually a really interesting idea. If you're the Rams, and you've spent all this money on a new rookie QB, why not bring in a premier receiver for him to work with? You're the Rams - you're so far behind the 8-ball that you actually have to probably overpay guys to get them to play for you. Vincent Jackson's 3-game suspension is irrelevant because the Rams aren't going anywhere this season anyway - and you have him as a tool to build for the future.

The Rams should absolutely be picking up the phone to talk to San Diego, and if you have to pay him a little more than he's worth to get him, so be it...

**KabaModernFan** · 08-27-2010, 05:50 PM

It's now been confirmed by the team that Avery tore his ACL and will miss the season.

**Gandalf2300** · 08-29-2010, 04:17 AM

From what I have read, the Chargers have only given one team, Seattle, permission to talk to Vincent Jackson. I sense that the Chargers are dragging their feet and want to squat on Jackson for right now. That means that they will probably ask for too much compensation, if he was dangled to the rest of the league. It makes perfect sense for the Rams to somehow get a premier receiver for Bradford to throw to . . .

Here is an idea-how about offering RB Steven Jackson to San Diego for Jackson, and throw in a late round draft pick for giggles? It is worth a phone call. Steven Jackson is a rugged RB, but the mileage is piling up and he is probably a year or two years away from hitting that Shaun Alexander wall. Trade him now while he has value, and get a really good WR in return. The Rams could get another RB on waivers or trade for a guy to play in 2010. Then, the Rams draft a decent RB with a 2nd or 3rd round pick in 2011. For now, the Rams have to hope their TE with the long name (Hoomanwanui) and rookie WR Gilyard step it up and get open often enough to help Bradford avoid looking like Fran Tarkenton.

**Pattrick** · 08-29-2010, 05:18 AM

Originally Posted by Gandalf2300

From what I have read, the Chargers have only given one team, Seattle, permission to talk to Vincent Jackson. I sense that the Chargers are dragging their feet and want to squat on Jackson for right now. That means that they will probably ask for too much compensation, if he was dangled to the rest of the league. It makes perfect sense for the Rams to somehow get a premier receiver for Bradford to throw to . . .

Here is an idea-how about offering RB Steven Jackson to San Diego for Jackson, and throw in a late round draft pick for giggles? It is worth a phone call. Steven Jackson is a rugged RB, but the mileage is piling up and he is probably a year or two years away from hitting that Shaun Alexander wall. Trade him now while he has value, and get a really good WR in return. The Rams could get another RB on waivers or trade for a guy to play in 2010. Then, the Rams draft a decent RB with a 2nd or 3rd round pick in 2011. For now, the Rams have to hope their TE with the long name (Hoomanwanui) and rookie WR Gilyard step it up and get open often enough to help Bradford avoid looking like Fran Tarkenton.

You're kidding, right? The Rams SHOULD NOT and WILL NOT trade Jackson. Lets say they do trade him for V. Jackson and a late round pick. Bradford would be torn apart this season... he'd have no threat of a running game, no offensive line to protect him to get the ball to V. Jackson down field. It would screw Bradford up terribly. His confidence would be shot, he doesn't seem to be a very vocal, fiery leader right now anyway, imagine how bad he'd feel and how bad his body language would look to his team mates after getting pounded for a couple weeks.

Stephen Jackson is GREAT for the Rams, no other back in the league (except maybe Adrian Peterson) could get the stats that Jackson gets with that offensive line. I don't think Chris Johnson would be succesful in St. Louis. You have to have a BIG, STRONG back who can take that type of punishment. you can't just go out there and pick up another stephen Jackson in free agency or off the waiver lists from other teams.

**Wordsworth** · 08-29-2010, 06:39 AM

I have to agree with Pattrick on this one, despite how attractive a deal for Vincent Jackson sounds rolling off the tongue. Steven Jackson is the entire Rams offense right now, and if you remove him and replace him with another one-man army you're still stuck with the same problems, only now your rookie QB has nothing to keep defenses honest, and your new stud WR won't play until week 4. Not a good idea right now. Not with Ogbonnaya and Toston as your only RBs.

**Gandalf2300** · 09-03-2010, 11:18 PM

Steven Jackson is a warrior who has performed a yeoman's labor to gain as many yards as he has recently (and the Rams confirmed he is not being traded). He is pretty much a one-man offense-a larger version of Barry Sanders, who was a one-man show in Detroit for however many years (I totally mean that as a compliment to Jackson). It seems too bad that such a good player as S. Jackson will probably be worn out by the time the Rams approach being a playoff contender. I am sure the Rams would have loved to have traded their high draft picks the last few years to get more lower picks-reports were that they tried and failed-they even tried to trade their pick at the top of the 2nd round the previous year (the pick they used to get Laurinitis, who is looking legit), but their GM said the offers were 'for s**t'. Maybe if the Rams can win 6-7 games this year (a realistic goal), they would probably have a # 10-15 draft pick-much easier to trade-then deal for a later 1st round pick plus some mid round picks in current and future years. The draft is the only way the Rams get better-they won't get top tier free agents right now.

I know the Rams have had many needs to fill in the draft the last couple of years, but I think it was a bad idea to totally skip taking a running back in an early to mid round (not the first round, but 2nd to 5th round) during these recent years. The Rams could really use a Reggie Bush type of back-quickness to the outside, the ability to catch passes out of the backfield. Such a back getting 8-12 carries a game would give Jackson some much needed rest, and provide pass-blocking on passing downs as well, so Jackson can save his energy and avoid wearing down. If they had such a back (Ogbonnaya and Toston are question marks at this point), a few years could potentially be added to Jackson's career.