Kyle Boller will make his first start at quarterback for the St. Louis Rams tomorrow as Marc Bulger rests his injured shoulder.
Coach Steve Spagnuolo said yesterday that if Bulger dresses for the game, it will be as the third quarterback. Rookie Keith Null will be the backup. Bulger did not throw during yesterday’s practice and is listed as questionable for the game at NFC West rival San Francisco (2-1).
“He took some snaps,’’ Spagnuolo said. “He did some handoffs. We’ve got 48 more hours for the throwing part of it.’’
St. Louis (0-3) will try to end a 13-game losing streak, the longest in the NFL.
Bulger suffered a bruised rotator cuff on his right throwing shoulder during last week’s 36-17 loss to Green Bay. Boller came in and threw two touchdown passes, but the comeback fizzled in the second half. Overall, he was 16 for 31 for 164 yards and an interception.
Boller is in his first year in St. Louis. He had 42 career starts for Baltimore, but tomorrow will be his first start since Dec. 16, 2007. He missed last season with a shoulder injury.
Boller feels he is ready.
“You’ve got to be confident in your abilities and, especially in this position, believe in yourself,’’ he said. “I think it’s a huge opportunity. We’re looking to win a football game here. That’s all I’m thinking about - doing everything I can to lead this team to victory.’’
Jets’ secondary ailing
Jets cornerbacks
Lito Sheppard (strained right quadriceps) and
Donald Strickland (high right ankle sprain) have been ruled out for tomorrw’s game at New Orleans against the high-powered Saints offense.
Dwight Lowery will start in Sheppard’s spot, opposite
Darrelle Revis and
Drew Coleman will likely see more action in Strickland’s nickel role . . . Giants halfback
Ahmad Bradshaw returned to practice and will likely play tomorrow at Kansas City. But four other injured players - defensive lineman
Chris Canty, cornerback
Aaron Ross, wide receiver
Domenik Hixon, and running back
Danny Ware - are out . . . Steelers running back
Willie Parker did not practice for a third consecutive day and is not expected to play against the Chargers tomorrow night. Parker injured his left big toe against the Bengals last Sunday and did not practice all week. Parker is expected to be replaced by
Rashard Mendenhall, who was benched by coach
Mike Tomlin in Cincinnati except for special teams because he didn’t correctly run plays in practice . . .
Matt Hasselbeck’s broken rib hasn’t gotten any better, so the Seahawks quarterback is doubtful to return against undefeated Indianapolis.
Seneca Wallace will start again if Hasselbeck can’t play . . . Banged-up running back
Clinton Portis (bruised calf, bone spurs in both ankles) will be a game-time decision for the second straight week when the Redskins take on the Buccaneers.
Seymour fined $7,500
Oakland defensive lineman
Richard Seymour was fined $7,500 by the NFL for unnecessary roughness against Denver tackle
Ryan Clady. After a play was over, Seymour pulled Clady by the hair. The NFL also fined Seattle DE
Patrick Kerney $5,000 for driving Chicago QB
Jay Cutler to the ground and San Francisco defensive end
Justin Smith $5,000 for hitting
Brett Favre in the knee area during Minnesota’s 27-24 win Sunday . . . Texans rookie tight end
Anthony Hill was hospitalized this week with swine flu in the first confirmed case in an NFL player this season. Hill is the only player on the team believed to have swine flu and other players are being monitored, the team said. Hill was released from the hospital yesterday . . . The NFL Players Association has formed a committee to address the issue of head trauma among players. Cardinals wide receiver
Sean Morey will chair the committee with union medical director Dr.
Thom Mayer. It will also be comprised of other active players, former players, researchers in the field and physicians with expertise in neurological injuries. A recent study commissioned by the NFL showed that retired players may have a higher rate than normal of Alzheimer’s disease or other memory problems. Experts said that the work was not definitive but that it fit in with other studies suggesting a long-term risk from head injuries in sports.
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