Instead of playing the waiting game for a fifth consecutive week, Rams coach Jim Haslett declared Monday that Steven will be sidelined for the team’s game against the Chicago Bears this Sunday.
This marks the fourth time in the last five games that No. 39 will sit out.
Antonio Pittman started in place of SJax in last Sunday’s loss to the San Francisco 49ers, gaining 95 yards on 14 carries. Pittman will get the starting nod again this week.
Though Haslett would love to get his best offensive weapon back on the field, the Rams’ medical staff recommended otherwise.
“They feel he should be out this week, and rest him, and see what happens next week,’’ Haslett said.
Unfortunately, the second MRI on Steven’s thigh didn’t show enough improvement to get him back on the gridiron.
“He had a second opinion in town, and the doctor kind of told him the same thing we were telling him,’’ Haslett said. “He has a strain with a little bit of blood in it, and it’s going to take some time to heal.”
“He thought he should take some time off also, let it rest.’’
Nobody knows his own body better than Steven, and if he says he isn’t healthy enough to play, he means it. No. 39 would like nothing more than to get back on the field to continue racking up yards (and wins), but his quad simply won’t allow it.
The folks at Rotowire try to look on the bright side:
“The good news is that a second diagnosis has confirmed just a strain, but it’ll be enough to keep him on the shelf against the Bears this week.”
SJ’s best blocker, Orlando Pace, will also be sidelined for 2-4 weeks due to an MCL strain.
RELATED STORIES
Pace out 2-4 weeks, Jackson also ruled out (STLtoday, Nov. 17, 2008)
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/rams/story/22FC47213FEE705486257505000CC359?OpenDocument
Steven Jackson already ruled as out for the Bears (Ramblings, Nov. 17, 2008)
http://bellevillenewsdemocrat.typepad.com/ramblings/2008/11/steven-jackson-already-ruled-as-out-for-the-bears.html
Steven Jackson: Will Miss Another Week (Rotowire, Nov. 17, 2008)
http://www.rotowire.com/roto_to_gnews.htm?ID=158253&sport=nfl
Miss your explosive game out on that field, and your boys could sure use your help. Take the week off against the Bears, then haul a$$ to come back for the next week. Then show the league and the naysayers what’s up when you drop 150 yards on your opponents the rest of the season. GO S-JAX!!!!