Madison Hedgecock

The St. Louis Rams got good news on wide receiver Donnie Avery, who underwent an MRI exam on his hip that revealed a bruise. They can't afford to lose any more players at a position that's been thin since training camp. Avery's injury early in Sunday's 23-20 overtime loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars deprived the winless Rams (0-6) of their only player able to stretch the field.  

The Philadelphia Eagles have acquired linebacker Will Witherspoon from the St. Louis Rams for rookie wide receiver Brandon Gibson and a fifth-round pick in 2010. The Eagles made the trade Tuesday to get Witherspoon, an eight-year veteran who spent his first four seasons with Carolina. He was the Rams' starter at the weakside spot and had 36 tackles and one forced fumble this season.  

Each week, the winless St. Louis Rams find some reason to be optimistic they'll finally end their slump. No matter who they're playing. This week it's legitimate because they're playing the one-win Lions. Hopes are definitely high for a franchise that has dropped 17 in a row dating to Oct.  

Steven Jackson has been a standout for the winless St. Louis Rams, ranking second in the NFL in yards from scrimmage and third in rushing. No TDS yet, though he's doing his best to be a team player about it. "Sometimes his emotions get the best of him, but that's why we love him," quarterback Marc Bulger said.  

The St. Louis Rams beat the Detroit Lions in each phase to snap their 17-game losing streak. Offense. Defense. Special teams. Coaching. Steven Jackson's 25-yard touchdown run with 1:38 left lifted the Rams to a 17-10 win Sunday over Detroit. "As a rookie I said, 'That was an ugly win,' and I got chewed out," Jackson said.  

St. Louis Rams kick returner Danny Amendola suffered a concussion on a devastating hit in the fourth quarter of Sunday's victory over the Lions. Coach Steve Spagnuolo said Monday doctors would give Amendola an extra day before administering tests Wednesday. Amendola has played in five games since the Rams signed him off the Eagles' practice squad Sept.  

As Steven Jackson rambled into the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown with 1:38 to go, St. Louis Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo felt no sense of elation. Here's what was on the rookie head coach's mind: "I hope we didn't score too soon." Can't blame the guy for being skittish, considering how long the Rams (1-7) waited between wins.  

The St. Louis Rams have signed cornerback Danny Gorrer and waived wide receiver Tim Carter. The Rams announced the moves Tuesday. Gorrer is a rookie who was on the practice squad for the New Orleans Saints, who signed him as an undrafted free agent May 4. He was a two-year starter at Texas A where he had 141 tackles, two sacks, one interception, 13 passes defended and two forced fumbles.  

Josh Brown's first NFL pass was not a thing of beauty but he doesn't care about style points. The St. Louis Rams' kicker was named the NFC's special teams player of the week Wednesday after a game that saw him kick a 41-yard field goal but also throw a 36-yard touchdown pass to tight end Daniel Fells.  

Marc Bulger has thrown just three touchdown passes and has a passer rating of 68.2 for the scuffling St. Louis Rams. Don't expect coach Steve Spagnuolo to change quarterbacks. He has been generally pleased with the 32-year-old Bulger. "I think Marc has done everything we needed him to do," Spagnuolo said.  

No question, the St. Louis Rams deserve to be 1-7. So far, they've proven only that they can beat another really bad team. To match or -- gasp -- top last year's 2-14 record, they know they'll have to step it up. "We've just got to keep plugging away," rookie head coach Steve Spagnuolo said during the bye week.  

While waiting eight games for his first sack of the season, Chris Long insists he was not inundated with tips from his Hall of Fame father. The St. Louis Rams' defensive end said he rarely goes a day without touching base with his dad, former Raiders great Howie Long. But the topics mostly are the usual father-and-son stuff, even if he's talking to a former star defensive end who went to...  

Thanks to the recent bye week, St. Louis Rams cornerback Ron Bartell is feeling the best he has all season after a nagging thigh injury hampered his play. "Everything's fine, no complaints," Bartell said Thursday. "I got to get away from football a little bit and get healthy and refocus." He'll need to focus on Sunday when the Rams (1-7) face quarterback Drew Brees and...  

The last time St. Louis Rams receiver Keenan Burton was on the field he tied an NFL career high with five catches and the 54 yards was a personal best. If the records seem modest, remember that Burton is a second-year player for a team that is not exactly an offensive powerhouse. But in that game, two weeks ago, Burton helped the Rams snap a 17-game losing streak with a 17-10 win at Detroit.  

The St. Louis Rams lost again and are down another wide receiver, but they're feeling a lot better about themselves after nearly upsetting the unbeaten New Orleans Saints. In the 28-23 loss to the unbeaten Saints (9-0) on Sunday, Rams receiver Keenan Burton suffered a torn patella tendon in one of his knees and will be lost for the season.  

The St. Louis Rams have signed wide receiver Jordan Kent to replace Keenan Burton, the receiver lost for the season to a knee injury. Burton hurt his right knee in Sunday's 28-23 loss to New Orleans. Kent is 6-foot-4 and spent training camp with Seattle. He was waived on Sept. 5. He was a sixth-round draft pick of the Seahawks in 2007 and split time between the practice squad and active roster.  

Brandon Gibson was lost in the shuffle in Philadelphia, which is loaded with young, talented wide receivers. The rookie has been quite the pick-me-up with the St. Louis Rams, a team desperate for pass catchers all year. So desperate that Gibson was Marc Bulger's primary target last week, making his first seven career receptions for 93 yards.  

St. Louis Rams center Jason Brown has been helped off the field favoring his right knee at the two-minute warning against the Seattle Seahawks. The team said Brown's return is questionable. The Rams began Sunday's game without two other offensive line starters, tackle Jason Smith (concussion) and guard Richie Incognito (foot).  

St. Louis Rams offensive tackle Jason Smith, inactive Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks with a concussion, was taken to a hospital for observation after becoming ill near the end of the game. Smith was released a few hours after the game, team spokesman Ted Crews said. Smith, the second overall pick of the draft, failed two baseline tests during the practice week.  

The St. Louis Rams' run defense has been horrible lately, even though the personnel's pretty much the same. It's becoming a weekly sore spot for rookie coach Steve Spagnuolo, who built his reputation on stopping opponents. On Sunday, the Seattle Seahawks more than doubled their NFL-low average with a season-best 170 yards in beating the Rams 27-17.  

Rookie Keith Null made his first NFL start Sunday against the Tennessee Titans, taking the first snap for the St. Louis Rams for banged-up Kyle Boller. The only lineup change before kickoff was Adam Goldberg starting at right tackle with Jason Smith sidelined for a third straight game with a concussion.  

The Tennessee Titans aren't giving up on their slim playoff hopes, not without a fight. Chris Johnson ran for 117 yards and two touchdowns and also took a short pass 66 yards for another score and the Tennessee Titans stayed alive by routing the woeful St. Louis Rams 47-7 Sunday. The Titans (6-7) must win out and get plenty of help after their 0-6 start, but they are focusing on what they...  

St. Louis Rams guard Jacob Bell could miss the rest of the season after tearing a hamstring late in Sunday's loss at Tennessee. Coach Steve Spagnuolo said Monday that the injury will not require surgery but hinted Bell could be placed on injured reserve. The other guard could be a question mark for this week, too.  

Keith Null could not resist poking fun at himself after the St. Louis Rams absorbed their latest whipping. The rookie quarterback made his NFL debut Sunday after Kyle Boller's thigh injury tightened up in pre-game warmups and was 27 for 43 for 157 yards and five interceptions in 47-7 loss at Tennessee.  

Richie Incognito was released on Tuesday by the St. Louis Rams, two days after coach Steve Spagnuolo benched the temperamental offensive guard for the second half of a loss at Tennessee. "As with all other personnel moves, this is what we felt was in the best interest of the team at this time," Spagnuolo said in a statement.  

The St. Louis Rams have put off a decision on who's starting at quarterback this weekend, with Kyle Boller sent home due to illness and rookie Keith Null getting all the practice snaps. There's enough going on without pondering that choice for the game against the Houston Texans. The Rams (1-12) have openings at both guard spots, too, after temperamental Richie Incognito was released Tuesday...  

The St. Louis Rams canceled practice Thursday due to confirmed cases of swine flu on the team. Players were seen driving away from Rams Park shortly before noon after receiving medication from the team. Coach Steve Spagnuolo scheduled a midday news conference, but other details were not immediately available.  

The St. Louis Rams failed to sell out their second straight home game, with about 8,000 tickets remaining for Sunday's game against the Houston Texans. The Rams did not ask the NFL for a 24-hour extension, executive vice president of football operations Kevin Demoff said Thursday. St. Louis also failed to sell out Nov.  

In four years at Ohio State, James Laurinaitis was on the losing end only eight times in 51 games. His rookie NFL season has been an eye-opener for its astounding lack of success. Though Laurinaitis has more than justified the St. Louis Rams' decision to draft the middle linebacker with the second pick of the second round given his team-leading 125 tackles.  

Steven Jackson and Kyle Boller are active for the St. Louis Rams' game against the Houston Texans after missing practice time due to flulike symptoms. But Boller, who missed two days of practice, was the backup Sunday, while rookie Keith Null got his second straight start. The Rams appeared to be over the swine flu that hit the team earlier in the week when all players reported for a walkthrough...  

St. Louis Rams cornerback Quincy Butler injured his left knee on the Houston Texans' opening drive, and the team said his return was questionable. Butler was hurt making the tackle after a 2-yard gain by Ryan Moats on fourth-and-1 from the Rams 33. He's made seven starts this season, all in the last eight games, filling in after rookie Bradley Fletcher was lost for the season with a knee...  

Big games from Andre Johnson and Matt Schaub helped the Houston Texans score just enough points. Schaub had his eighth 300-yard passing game, one shy of Peyton Manning's league-leading total, and Johnson consistently eluded a defense geared to stop him with a season best 196 yards receiving. But the Texans ended up leaning on field goals to hold off the lowly St.  

The St. Louis Rams have lost two more players to injury, cornerback Quincy Butler (left knee sprain combined with a high ankle sprain) and tight end Daniel Fells (fractured right thigh bone). The Rams placed Fells on injured reserve Monday. Butler is doubtful for the remaining two games. St. Louis has 12 players on injured reserve and have two others, quarterback Marc Bulger and offensive tackle Jason...  

The frustration mounts for the Rams offense. Sunday's 17-9 loss to the Bears was the fifth this season in which the Rams scored fewer than 10 points, and they have just 14 touchdowns in 12 games. One was on an interception return, and another was on a touchdown pass on a fake field goal. In the first and third quarters, the Rams have been outscored 70-16 and 62-15, respectively. Said guard Richie Incognito, "It's a tough deal and something I...  

The St. Louis Rams have struggled to stop the run all season. The test only gets harder on Sunday when they face Tennessee's Chris Johnson, the league's leading rusher. The Rams rank 28th in run defense, allowing 146.2 yards per game. Over the last four games, all losses, St. Louis (1-11) has allowed an average of 6.8 yards per carry.  

Safety O.J. Atogwe, one of the St. Louis Rams' top playmakers on defense, could miss the rest of the season with a dislocated right shoulder that likely will eventually require surgery. Atogwe hasn't ruled out finishing the year while wearing a harness. He said Monday that he planned to speak with his agent and get other medical opinions, while also waiting for swelling to subside.  

At least for one week, the St. Louis Rams got the defense straightened out. The offense is another story. Coach Steve Spagnuolo spent most of his Monday news conference answering questions about a feeble attack that was held without a touchdown for the fourth time this season in a 17-9 loss at Chicago.  

Donnie Jones will have a tough time topping his last game, even if it was in another losing cause. The St. Louis Rams' punter pinned the Chicago Bears at their own 7, 2, 2 and 3 in Sunday's 17-9 setback. A case can be made that he was the team's most valuable player that day, with left-footed kicks that helped the defense stuff the Bears after a slow start and give a feeble offense...  

Steven Jackson missed his eighth straight practice Thursday, resting an aching back. On game day he'll again be carrying a heavy load for the St. Louis Rams' feeble offense. Apparently, practice is overrated for the 235-pound running back who's the lone threat on one of the worst offenses in franchise history.  

If Kyle Boller is auditioning for a new deal with the St. Louis Rams, he has yet to impress. The backup quarterback is getting extended playing opportunity, perhaps the rest of the season, given that Marc Bulger is on crutches with a fractured left shin bone. But Boller realizes the game-changing mistakes that have marred his play must be weeded out.  

St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson has been fined $5,000 for throwing a ball into the stands. He does not plan on appealing. Jackson said Thursday he knew the fine was coming after he scored in the final minute of Sunday's loss to the Seahawks. He said he just wanted to toss a present to the handful of fans who were still around at the end of the game.  

No matter how sorry the St. Louis Rams' season, Jason Brown wants the team to know they can always count on him. Not just on game day, either. Brown expects to make his 56th consecutive start on Sunday at Chicago, a nice, long run. Even more impressive: He'd never missed a practice during his six-year career until Wednesday, when he was held out as a precaution with a sprained right knee.  

Between the growing pile of losses, the uncertain status of their coach and the latest round of drama involving Jay Cutler and Brian Urlacher, this isn't exactly a fun time for the Chicago Bears. Imagine how depressing it will be if they lose to lowly St. Louis. With four straight losses and six in seven games, a win Sunday isn't exactly a given for the Bears (4-7) no matter how bad the Rams...  

ST. LOUIS - Double-digit favourites on the road to win their 15th consecutive regular-season game, the Indianapolis Colts act as if they won't have a more difficult test than the winless St. Louis Rams.  

ST. LOUIS - Richie Incognito was released on Tuesday by the St. Louis Rams, two days after coach Steve Spagnuolo benched the temperamental offensive guard for the second half of a loss at Tennessee.  

NASHVILLE - Tennessee quarterback Vince Young strained his right hamstring Sunday during the second quarter against the St. Louis Rams and didn't return as the Titans finished off a 47-7 rout.  

ST. LOUIS - Steven Jackson missed his eighth straight practice Thursday, resting an aching back. On game day he'll again be carrying a heavy load for the St. Louis Rams' feeble offence.  

ST. LOUIS - The St. Louis Rams cancelled practice Thursday due to an undisclosed number of swine flu cases on the team, just three days before a home game against the Houston Texans.  

ST. LOUIS - The St. Louis Rams have struggled to stop the run all season. The test only gets harder on Sunday when they face Tennessee's Chris Johnson, the league's leading rusher.  

PHILADELPHIA - The Philadelphia Eagles have acquired linebacker Will Witherspoon from the St. Louis Rams for rookie wide receiver Brandon Gibson and a fifth-round pick in 2010.  

ST. LOUIS - Steven Jackson has played four games without practising because of a lower back injury. The St. Louis Rams' running back sees no reason why he can't play two more.  

ST. LOUIS - Posting on his Twitter account Sunday night, SJ39, Steven Jackson said aches and pains from a big day against the Detroit Lions were "starting to get to me."  

ST. LOUIS - The schedule has done zero favours for the one-win St. Louis Rams, the first team in NFL history to draw unbeaten opponents in three straight home games.  

ST. LOUIS - The St. Louis Rams failed to sell out their second straight home game, with about 8,000 tickets remaining for Sunday's game against the Houston Texans.  

ST. LOUIS - As Steven Jackson rambled into the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown with 1:38 to go, St. Louis Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo felt no sense of elation.  

ST. LOUIS - Steven Jackson has been a standout for the winless St. Louis Rams, ranking second in the NFL in yards from scrimmage and third in rushing.  

ST. LOUIS - Each week, the winless St. Louis Rams find some reason to be optimistic they'll finally end their slump. No matter who they're playing.  

ST. LOUIS - St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson has been fined US$5,000 for throwing a ball into the stands. He does not plan on appealing.  

ST. LOUIS - The St. Louis Rams have signed wide receiver Jordan Kent to replace Keenan Burton, the receiver lost for the season to a knee injury.  

ST. LOUIS - St. Louis Rams guard Jacob Bell could miss the rest of the season after tearing a hamstring late in Sunday's loss at Tennessee.  

ST. LOUIS - Kyle Boller made two starts earlier in the season for the St. Louis Rams, filling in for injured quarterback Marc Bulger.  

ST. LOUIS - Marc Bulger has thrown just three touchdown passes and has a passer rating of 68.2 for the scuffling St. Louis Rams.  

DETROIT - Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford was active and receiver Calvin Johnson was out against the St. Louis Rams.  

ST. LOUIS - Canadian Oshiomogho Atogwe, the second-leading tackler for the St. Louis Rams, will not play again this season.  

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The Jacksonville Jaguars have been awarded safety Anthony Smith off waivers from the St. Louis Rams.  

ST. LOUIS - Brandon Gibson was lost in the shuffle in Philadelphia, which is loaded with young, talented wide receivers.  

St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson has been fined $5,000 for throwing the football into the stands Sunday...  

St. Louis Rams halfback Steven Jackson has never enjoyed a winning season since he was drafted in 2004 -- the...  

When a team is 0-7, it can't be too shocking when rumors start to circulate that the starting quarterback is...  

There was a stir around the St. Louis Rams a few weeks ago when Rush Limbaugh was part of a group that was...  

It's been replaced atop the news cycle by more important things like Tiger Woods and the women Tiger Woods...  

The Detroit Lions have now put an end to two unbelievable losing streaks this season -- their own, and St.  

DETROIT - The St. Louis Rams beat the Detroit Lions in each phase to snap their 17-game losing streak.  

The St. Louis Rams had to cancel Thursday's practice for an unusual reason. According to the team's...  

ST. LOUIS - St. Louis Rams defensive end C.J. Ah You has been lost for the season with a knee injury.  

NASHVILLE - The Tennessee Titans aren't giving up on their slim playoff hopes, not without a fight.  

ST. LOUIS - The St. Louis Rams appear to be over swine flu that hit the team earlier in the week.  

By R.B. FALLSTROM AP Sports Writer  

By R.B. FALLSTROM AP Sports Writer