Rams News

Bruce has another hamstring injury; Banks nurses sore shoulder

09/16/98

By Jim Thomas
Of the Post-Dispatch Staff

Much of the Rams' offensive firepower, such as it is, sat out Thursday's practice at Rams Park.
Wide receiver Isaac Bruce, the NFL leader in receptions (21) and reception yards (323 yards), was sidelined with -- brace yourselves, Rams fans -- a tight hamstring.
Quarterback Tony Banks, No. 3 in the NFL in passing yards (581), was out with a bruised shoulder. Banks missed half of Wednesday's practice as well because of the injury. He has been listed as probable on the Rams' official league injury report for Sunday's game in Buffalo. And the injury is to his throwing shoulder, not his left shoulder as reported in Thursday's Post-Dispatch.
Also, tight end Ernie Conwell missed his second consecutive day of practice with bruised ribs.
Except for a handful of plays, Bruce missed the Rams' first five games last season with a hamstring injury. But this time, the tightness is in his other leg. Bruce said sitting out Thursday was more a precaution.
``I'm not worried,'' Bruce said. ``If it's tight (Friday), I probably won't do anything. But if it's cool, I'll practice.''
Similarly, Banks didn't seem concerned about his sore shoulder.
``It's not as good as I'd like it to be, but I'll be all right,'' he said after Thursday's practice. ``I probably shouldn't have done as much as I did (Wednesday). Then I'd probably be a little better off.''
Banks played most of the second half against Minnesota with the shoulder bothering him. He suffered the injury on a third-and-10 scramble on the Rams' opening possession of the second half.
``I had a chance to get out of bounds, I was by the sidelines, and instead I tried to take on (safety) Robert Griffith, who got me about six yards into the sideline,'' Banks said. ``It was sore the whole rest of the half.
``I think we'll all be ready by Sunday.''
Due to wet weather, the Rams practiced in the more confined spaces of their indoor field Thursday, but still finished about 40 minutes earlier under their new practice format.

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