RAMS WIDE RECEIVER CLAYTON SUFFERS SEASON ENDING KNEE INJURY

It wasn’t a very good weekend for the St. Louis Rams.  They were embarrassed on the road, losing to previously winless Detroit 44-6 and in the defeat suffered a more significant loss.  Wide receiver Mark Clayton—the team’s most dangerous downfield threat—tore his patella tendon trying to run down a Sam Bradford pass early in the game.  He’s been forced to undergo season ending surgery and his loss is a severe blow to a receiver corps already decimated by injury.

Head coach Steve Spagnuolo confirmed the loss of Clayton in his Monday press conference:

"He's got a torn patella. So that's unfortunate for us."

"We certainly don't feel good about losing Mark because he's made a lot of plays for us, but we have to find a way to overcome that somehow."

Clayton is the third St. Louis receiver to be lost for the season—all due to knee injuries.  Donnie Curry and Dominique Avery both suffered torn ACL's earlier this year.
Spagnuolo talked about reports that undrafted practice squad rookie Danario Alexander could take Clayton’s roster spot.  Alexander played college football at Missouri and is very popular with St. Louis fans:

"We'll certainly look at Danario. He's excited about doing it. We want to make sure he's OK physically."

Spagnuolo was more upset about the team’s performance in the lopsided loss to Detroit and particularly on the defensive side of the ball.  The Rams allowed 44 points to the Lions after giving up only 52 points in their four first games:

"I'm disappointed in the loss and I'm really upset the fact that how we lost and by how much and all of that. These guys feel the same way, so we're in here trying to get it corrected."

Clayton had caught 22 passes for 300 yards and two touchdowns in the first four games leading the Rams in all three categories.  In six seasons in the NFL he has 257 receptions and 14 touchdowns in 81 career games and had become Sam Bradford's best downfield threat.

St. Louis will have to work out the situation quickly, as they return to action at home this Sunday hosting the San Diego Chargers.  The Rams are a +8’ NFL betting underdog with the total set at 45.