A season that began with a 47-yard touchdown run by running back Steven Jackson is going in the wrong direction, but the Rams hope Jackson will be at full strength for Sunday's game against the Redskins.
Jackson suffered a strained quadriceps on that run, and missed the Week 2 game against the Giants. Sunday against Baltimore, he was active, but carried only four times for 23 yards.
Asked if Jackson will have a larger role this week, coach Steve Spagnuolo said, "Yes that's the hope. And going into the (last) game it was to do only certain things. Again, I want to compliment Steve for being a team player. We had an extended conversation in the morning. I did not want to put him out there if there was a chance he would go backwards. I just didn't want to do that and so we whittled it down.
"We felt the risk and Steve felt the risk was if he had to open up and go deep. So part of the plan was short yardage, goal line, in the red zone, those kind of things. Just having him in the huddle, I think, is big for our football team. That was kind of the reasoning and then I just kept my fingers crossed and said some prayers that it wouldn't go backwards."
As for what getting Jackson back will mean for the offense, Spagnuolo said, "That will juice us up. The fact that you've got a couple of backs helps. Steven certainly wants to get them up and going. Hopefully he'll be in there, but it's nice to know that if he gets winded or dinged we can get another guy in there. We're looking forward to that."
Jackson spoke to the frustration of not playing and seeing the team begin the season 0-3.
He said, "It's very frustrating because the hard work the guys have put in, especially during training camp, is not carrying over into the game. Each and every person, all we can do is look at each other or look at ourselves in the mirror and that's where we can start, right there. It's very frustrating, especially as a team leader. You want more, especially because you see the grind. You see what guys are putting in, and for whatever reason it's just not happening for us on Sunday."
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