Quinn, T.J. McDonald headed toward season-ending surgeries
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-ra...cdonald-headed-toward-season-ending-surgeries
EARTH CITY, Mo. -- The St. Louis Rams' lengthy injured reserve list is adding two more prominent names.
Rams coach Jeff Fisher announced Wednesday that defensive end Robert Quinn (back) and safety T.J. McDonald (shoulder) will need season-ending surgeries and will be placed on injured reserve soon. Quinn and McDonald will be the Rams' seventh and eighth players to go on some form of injured reserve this year, joining key players like cornerback E.J. Gaines, linebacker Alec Ogletree (designated to return) and guards Jamon Brown and Rodger Saffold.
“In all likelihood either today or tomorrow we will be placing Rob Quinn on IR for the remainder of the season with a back (injury),” Fisher said. “He’s going to require season-ending surgery. That will also be the case for T.J., who requires season-ending shoulder surgery. So, unfortunately, we lost two really good defensive players.”
For Quinn, this has been a move more than a month in the making. Quinn did not attend the team's practices over the week 6 bye and has only appeared in one game for 14 snaps since. He was originally listed as having a knee injury, then it was a hip and back injury and now it's listed as a back, but the back has apparently been the main issue the whole time.
Quinn said recently that he hoped to be back to 100 percent and he was waiting to at least feel good enough to play again, but with the Rams floundering at 4-8, there was now little reason to hold out hope and delay the inevitable much longer.
"We’re moving forward with this, we’re being aggressive with this, so that he can come back at 100 percent,” Fisher said. “Our concern is his future and we need to go ahead and move forward with it so he can come back. It’s a 10- to 12-week rehab and he’ll be back at 100 percent.”
McDonald has actually been dealing with multiple injury issues for awhile but had been playing through those until he subluxed the shoulder again recently.
"He’s been dealing with a few things,” Fisher said. “The shoulder subluxed and we’ve got some things we have to get fixed. He’ll come back, he’ll come back 100 percent, but it’s not fair to ask him to play under the circumstances.”
Without Quinn, the Rams will likely give second-year end Ethan Westbrooks more opportunities as he joins Matt Longacre in the rotation behind starter Eugene Sims. Second-year safety Maurice Alexander will get more chance to plays as well with McDonald out.
The Rams also will have two roster spots opening up after losing Quinn and McDonald. Fisher didn't indicate an immediate move, but the Rams are banged up in the secondary with cornerback Janoris Jenkins battling a concussion and Trumaine Johnson working his way back from a thigh injury.
Here's the Rams' full Wednesday injury report:
Did not practice -- DE Robert Quinn (back), S T.J. McDonald (shoulder), CB Janoris Jenkins (concussion), DE William Hayes (thigh), OL Andrew Donnal (knee), K Zach Hocker (right thigh), P Johnny Hekker (rest-not injury related).
Limited participation -- TE Lance Kendricks (concussion), CB Trumaine Johnson (thigh), WR Wes Welker (calf).
Full participation -- QB Case Keenum (concussion), K Greg Zuerlein (right hip).
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