St. Louis Rams coach Jeff Fisher confirmed season-ending injuries to left tackle Jake Long and receiver Brian Quick on Monday afternoon.
Long suffered a torn right ACL and Quick a torn rotator cuff and separated shoulder, in Sunday’s 34-7 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Both injuries will require surgery and end the 2014 season after seven games for both players.
The Rams will place Long and Quick on injured reserve in the next couple of days as they re-shuffle the roster to get ready for next week’s game at San Francisco.
According to Fisher, Long suffered the injury with 4:19 to go in the third quarter when he got hit low on the outside of the leg by a Chiefs defensive tackle.
Long’s injury is the second of its kind to the same knee in a span of 308 days. In an eerie bit of coincidence, quarterback Sam Bradford suffered his second ACL injury to the same knee 307 days after his initial tear.
Like Bradford, Long’s contract combined with his latest knee injury could make his future in St. Louis tenuous at best.
Long’s base salary was guaranteed only for the first two years, meaning the Rams could part with him after the season with little penalty.
Long is scheduled to count $10.5 million against the cap next year and $10 million against the cap in 2015. But the only money in those totals guaranteed is the prorated part of his original $5 million signing bonus. That comes to $2.5 million in dead money if the team releases him but with a net savings of $8 million.
Before the injury, Fisher said he believed Long was rounding into form after some rough moments in the opening weeks.
“He had an issue a couple weeks ago but last week he played really well,” Fisher said. “He played his best game to date last week and he was off to a great start in this game. He was strong, he was stout, he was playing well. It’s very unfortunate.”
Rookie Greg Robinson, the No. 2 overall pick in May’s draft, moved from left guard to left tackle in Long’s stead against the Chiefs and will now head back to that spot on a more permanent basis.
“That’s what he does,” Fisher said. “He’ll have a week to work on the footwork and things like that this week but he went out there and knew what to do … at the tackle position he’ll be fine.”
Quick left the game after a 10-yard catch with just under 12 minutes to go in the second quarter. He landed awkwardly after making the grab near the Chiefs sideline as cornerback Jamell Fleming brought him down.
Quick is under his rookie contract through 2015 but was in the midst of a possible breakthrough third season before the injury. In a little more than six games, he had already set career highs in receptions (25), receiving yards (375) and touchdowns (three).
“He was very productive,” Fisher said. “He took advantage of all the opportunities, he made tough plays, tough catches, we’re going to miss him. But as is the case when you have injured players, people step up so we have got to have people step up.”
In Quick’s case, the people stepping in will be Stedman Bailey and Chris Givens.
25% Bonus via Western Union
