Tuesday, Sep. 01, 2009

Bulger says he'll be ready for Rams' season opener

Won't play in game against Kansas City

ST. LOUIS -- Even though it's unlikely that he'll play in the St. Louis Rams' final preseason game, quarterback Marc Bulger feels certain he'll be ready for the team's season opener against the Seattle Seahawks on Sept. 13

"Yes," Bulger said tersely when asked whether he was still confident that he'd be able to play against the Seahawks.

Bulger has been sidelined since Aug. 17 with a broken pinkie finger that he suffered taking a snap in practice.

He threw 21 passes before practice Sunday and another 35-40 passes before practice Monday, but he has yet to participate in practice.

Coach Steve Spagnuolo said Bulger probably won't play in the Rams' preseason finale against the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday night at the Edward Jones Dome.

"Right now, we're planning on him not going," Spagnuolo said. "He'd have to come in here tomorrow begging to play, and saying it was OK. Right now, my guess is that he would not go. We're going to smart about it."

Bulger said that he would play if it were a regular season game.

"If we had a game tomorrow, I could play," Bulger said. "When it's a pain thing, guys find ways. There are ways to get around that. You don't want to do it too much. If the time comes and there is still a pain issue, there won't be an issue."

Bulger was referring to getting a shot of pain killer, so there obviously is some discomfort in the finger.

Bulger said a recent X-ray showed that there is still a break in the finger, but it was feeling better.

"The first week there was swelling, and I couldn't really bend my finger," Bulger said. "Now I can do everything. There is no pain unless I grip the ball. It has improved a lot in the last 14 days."

The biggest issue for Bulger is taking a snap from center.

"That's how we injured it, so we're just avoiding that exact movement for now just to be extra safe," Bulger said. "We probably could take snaps, but I think we're just erring on the cautious side with everything right now."

Bulger said he took some shotgun snaps during his throwing session on Monday morning. He also said he taped his pinkie finger together with his ring finger for added stability as he attempted some longer passes.

"I threw with four fingers basically today," Bulger said.

Bulger said he doesn't want to suffer a setback trying to come back too quickly from the injury.

"It would be just a shame to go out there and do too much today, take a snap and then re-brake what has already healed and be set back more," Bulger said. "Everything we are doing is just to be safe. We're right on course."

If he plays in the Rams' season opener, it will be his first game action in almost a month.

That's cause for concern over how sharp he'll be in the season opener.

"Yeah, it's a long stretch," Spagnuolo said. "I think you always have to be concerned, but you're dealing with a guy who has played a lot of football. It'd be different if it was a first- or second-year guy, I think. We'll just trust in his experience from the past."

There's also the question of being able to develop continuity on offense when the starting offense has yet to be together in the preseason.

Wide receiver Donnie Avery, left guard Jacob Bell, fullback Mike Karney and Bulger all have missed considerable time in the preseason due to injuries.

"We just don't want to make excuses," Bulger said. "If things don't go right, it's because we didn't do our jobs. We can't worry about injuries. It has been an Achilles' heel around here, and we can't let that be the excuse anymore."

If Bulger doesn't play, backup quarterback Kyle Boller will be leading the starting offense against the Chiefs. Boller already has gotten a lot of playing time with the starters.

"This has been a great opportunity for me just to get reps with the ones, to be in there with the guys in the huddle and to go out and execute the offense," Boller said. "You never know throughout the year when you're going to get called upon."

Boller feels like he can handle a starting role if Bulger isn't ready to play against the Seahawks.

"If that happens, I'll make sure that I'm ready," Boller said.