ST. LOUIS (AP) - St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford made all the throws during a short practice, making a fast recovery from a bruised index finger.
A special glove designed to increase blood flow to the injury and reduce swelling may have helped get him back on the field quickly.
“Everyone says I look like Michael Jackson,” Bradford joked Wednesday. “I’m not really sure what it does. They say it works and obviously my hand feels better, so I trust them.”
Bradford said although there was some soreness, the finger felt “10 times better” than it did on Monday, the day after the Rams’ opening 31-13 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. The original plan didn’t call for him to do any throwing before Thursday and Bradford hadn’t been that optimistic.
“I wouldn’t have come out of the game if it wasn’t serious,” Bradford said. “I couldn’t feel it, I couldn’t move it, I really was concerned.”
Now he’s hopeful his right hand will be 100 percent by Monday night when the Rams play at the New York Giants. For anyone watching or on the receiving end, it’s already close enough.
“I couldn’t tell a bit,” wide receiver Mike Sims-Walker said. “He looked great to me.”
Trainer Reggie Scott said electrodes flow through the glove, which is dampened in water to promote connectivity, and then connected to an electrical stimulation unit. Bradford has been wearing the glove, in 20-minute sessions, at Rams Park and at home.
“It’s a neat little gadget,” Scott said. “It’s helped out wonderfully. He’s been living in it.”
Scott said the device helped running back Steven Jackson recover from a dislocated finger last season.
As a rookie, Bradford was among three quarterbacks who took every snap. Backup A.J. Feeley was needed for the first time in two seasons in the fourth quarter after Bradford was hurt when he struck the upraised hands of a defender after a pass.
“He’s kind of over the hump with some things, it looks like he’s going to be OK,” coach Steve Spagnuolo said. “I think it would be the understatement of the year to say it’s a relief.”
There are plenty of other concerns, though.
Cornerback Ron Bartell was placed on injured reserve with two fractures in his neck, further thinning a position with little depth entering the season. Bartell was a second-round pick in 2005 and is the second-longest tenured Ram, and hopes to return next season.
“It’s unfortunate for Ron,” middle linebacker James Laurinaitis said. “He’s one of the leaders on our defense, and our team.”
Jackson, who strained his right leg early in the opening loss to the Eagles, has not been counted out for Monday night’s game at the New York Giants. Jackson was among a large group of players getting treatment during a workout that lasted just over an hour.
“Steven’s about the same,” Spagnuolo said. “We’ll see where we are at the end of the week.”
Wide receiver Danny Amendola wore a brace on his left elbow after dislocating the elbow Sunday and could be out several weeks, although Spagnuolo said he didn’t believe surgery would be needed. Backup defensive end C.J. Ah You will undergo wrist surgery.
All of the injuries prompted a flurry of moves. Safety Tim Atchison was elevated from the practice squad to the roster and running back Quinn Porter, recently released by the Cleveland Browns, was signed.
Center Drew Miller was released, safety Jonathan Nelson was released from the practice squad, and quarterback Tom Brandstater and offensive tackle Tim Barnes were signed to the practice squad. Brandstater also might get some work at wide receiver with the scout team.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.