An MRI has confirmed that Rams tackle Jake Long suffered a torn ACL, sources tell Chris Mortensen of ESPN.com (on Twitter). St. Louis sensed that this was the case yesterday and today, their worst fears were confirmed. Long will surely be placed on season-ending IR this week.
It’s more bad news for the Rams who also lost quarterback Sam Bradford to a torn ACL. Long, the first overall pick in 2008, spent the first five seasons of his career with the Dolphins before signing a four-year, $34MM contract with St. Louis prior to last season. The injury is doubly frustrating for Long as he also suffered an ACL tear towards the end of the 2013 season.
Greg Robinson, the second overall pick in the 2014 draft, will presumably take over starting duties at left tackle and move over from guard. Robinson was slotted in at left tackle after Long went down in the third quarter and he played the position at Auburn. Rodger Saffold also suffered an injury on Sunday, so the Rams will have multiple moves to make on the offensive line. Veteran guard Davin Joseph could be re-inserted into the starting lineup to help fill the gap.