With a short week before the Thursday night game against the Cardinals, there probably wasn’t too much hope that the Rams would have running back Steven Jackson doing much at practice this week.
Even though he has been able to play in each of the team’s last two games, Jackson’s been a rare participant in practices since injuring his groin in Week Two against the Redskins. He was listed as a non-participant on Monday’s practice report as well. Given the quick turnaround and the Rams’ obvious hesitancy to push Jackson too far too fast, it seemed like a decent bet that they’d keep things dialed back with so little time to prepare for Arizona.
Things have played out a little bit differently and a little bit more positively for the Rams. Jackson was a limited participant in practice on Tuesday, a level he couldn’t reach in either of the last two weeks despite having an extra day off before the first practice report of the week. That bodes well for his chances of playing on Thursday, obviously, and could be a sign that Jackson’s production could rise after gaining just 84 yards on 29 carries over the last two weeks.
The Cardinals defense, which is allowing 101 rushing yards per game, will have something to say about that, obviously, but a healthy Jackson gives the Rams offense a big shot in the arm.