Shaun Hill Injury: Updates on Rams QB's Quad and Return

Updates from Wednesday, Oct. 1

The Rams have announced who will start at QB in Week 5 confirms the team's official Twitter account:

Updates from Sunday, Sept. 21

Despite being listed as active for Week 3, Austin Davis started at quarterback for the Rams on vs. Dallas (via Nick Wagoner of ESPN):

Earlier, Hill was listed as active for St. Louis' matchup vs. Dallas (via Myles Simmons of StLouisRams.com):

ESPN's Adam Schefter also reported on the pre-game expectation for Hill's status for Week 3:

Updates from Friday, Sept. 19

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch has the latest on Hill's status:

Updates from Thursday, Sept. 18 

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch has the latest update on Shaun Hill after Thursday' practice: 

"

Quarterback Shaun Hill did a little more in practice Thursday, including some 7-on-7 work, but was still listed as limited on the Rams' official injury report.

That meant Austin Davis once again took the vast majority of reps and is expected to make his second NFL start this Sunday against Dallas.

"Shaun was limited today," coach Jeff Fisher said after Thursday's late-afternoon practice. "He did more, but we're still day-to-day. It'll most likely be a pregame decision like it was last week."

"

Updates from Wednesday, Sept. 17 

Nick Wagoner of ESPN provides an update on Shaun Hill's Week 3 status:

Updates from Sunday, Sept. 14

After the Rams' 19-17 win over the Bucs, coach Jeff Fisher confirmed Shaun Hill's place with the team when he returns from injury:

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch previously reported on Hill's status for Sunday's game:

Earlier, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the Rams were bracing for Hill to miss Week 2:

Updates from Saturday, Sept. 13

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports Shaun Hill's status remains in doubt for tomorrow's game: 

Updates from Friday, Sept. 12

Nick Wagoner of ESPN provides an update on Shaun Hill's injury:

"

Official Rams injury report: Out -- CB T. Johnson (knee), OL B. Jones (back) Questionable -- CB L. Joyner (back), QB S. Hill (thigh)

— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) September 12, 2014"

Updates from Thursday, Sept. 11

Howard Balzer provides the latest on Shaun Hill's injury:

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch has more on Hill: 

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Friday is the last full-scale practice of the week prior to Sunday's game at Tampa Bay, but offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer said it's possible Hill could start even if he doesn't practice this week.

"If he's ready to go (health-wise), we have no problem that he can get out there and perform well," Schottenheimer said.

"Dealing with a veteran guy, he's been dialed in on everything (in practice). We actually make him call the plays to the other quarterbacks in a lot of the walk-throughs and stuff that we do."

"

Updates from Wednesday, Sept. 10

Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports on if Shaun Hill practiced on Wednesday:

Updates from Monday, Sept. 8

Ian Rapoport of NFL.com updated Shaun Hill's status for Week 2:

Head coach Jeff Fisher also updated Hill's status (via Nick Wagoner of ESPN):

Original Text

St. Louis Rams quarterback Shaun Hill did not return for the second half after suffering a thigh injury.

The Rams confirmed the injury via their Twitter account, announcing Hill is questionable to return:  

Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk reported more on Hill's status following the game:

"

It was initially reported as a calf injury, but the Rams later clarified that it was a quad injury that he suffered near the end of the first half. After the game, coach Jeff Fisher said that the injury was the reason why Hill was taken out and that he’d undergo further evaluation on Monday.

"

Losing the 34-year-old veteran means Austin Davis will take over for Hill in the interim.

Davis will be the third primary quarterback already for the Rams in 2014. Projected starter Sam Bradford tore his ACL in the preseason for the second straight season, leaving the career-backup Hill to take over the reins. Hill came into 2014 having thrown only 16 regular-season passes since 2011, working as Matthew Stafford's primary backup in Detroit since the 2010 campaign.

It'll be interesting to see which direction Rams coach Jeff Fisher goes if Hill is out long term—mainly because neither seems that attractive. Davis is a former undrafted free agent who hadn't thrown a regular-season pass entering 2014. Keenum was undrafted out of Houston in 2012 and played nine games with the Texans last year without much success.

Keenum threw for 1,760 yards and nine touchdowns against six interceptions. He was released by Houston during the preseason after the team acquired Ryan Mallett. Davis' familiarity with the system will give him the first look, though one has to wonder how big of a leash he'll have.

Lynne Sladky/Associated Press

“First off, he’s smart—he understands what we’re doing," Fisher told reporters of Davis. "He can extend plays if he needs to. He’s gotten much better at keeping his eyes downfield, and that’s a hard thing to learn. It’s almost a trait. But, when you can step, feel around the pocket with your eyes down the field, you’ve got a chance to make plays.” 

Either way, it's a difficult blow for a team already in need of some luck on its side. Despite boasting perhaps the best front seven in football, St. Louis entered 2014 as a borderline lock for last place in the NFC West. Bradford's injury left almost every prognosticator certain San Francisco, Seattle and Arizona were better options.

It's unclear how long Hill will be out, but this is quickly looking like a lost season for the Rams.

Follow Tyler Conway (@tylerconway22) on Twitter