Chris Long Injury: Updates on Rams Star's Ankle and Return

Updates from Thursday, Sept. 11

Long's teammate, James Laurinaitis, reported that the defensive end underwent surgery on Thursday:

Original Text

The St. Louis Rams received more bad injury news regarding another marquee player on Wednesday. This time, it was standout defensive end Chris Long.    

Head coach Jeff Fisher announced that Long will require surgery on his ankle:

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the timeline for Long's return could be a long one:

ESPN's Nick Wagoner confirmed the roster move:

"

Rams officially announce roster move with C. Long. He's been place on injured reserve/designated to return. No corresponding move yet.

— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) September 10, 2014"

Fisher said after Sunday's horrendous 34-6 home loss to the Minnesota Vikings that Long was ailing.

"We're going to have to get Chris checked out," said Fisher, via Wagoner. "He's got an ankle [injury]."

This is the last thing St. Louis needs right now.

It's hard enough that St. Louis is in the NFC West. Now, the Rams are already one full game behind Seattle, San Francisco and Arizona, which all won their season openers.

Quarterback Sam Bradford, a former No. 1 overall pick, tore his ACL for the second time in less than a year during the Rams' third preseason game. Backup QB Shaun Hill may be out for Week 2's contest against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport:

With regard to Long, Cian Fahey of Rotoworld believes his loss may not be so calamitous:

"

Chris Long out may mean more William Hayes and Aaron Donald at DE. Not a major loss.

— Cian Fahey (@Cianaf) September 10, 2014"

William Hayes and Eugene Sims are the veterans next up to fill in for Long, but St. Louis will be missing the leadership from one of its team captains amid some significant adversity early in the year.

This will also allow the Rams a longer look at rookie defensive lineman Aaron Donald. The Pittsburgh product has the ability to line up inside or on the edge in the trenches.

Without a viable starting quarterback, though, the Rams appear doomed with or without Long. Last week's debacle against the Vikings showed that St. Louis is still at least a year away from contending in any fashion.

If the 2014 campaign goes awry, though, the Rams ought to have a high draft pick to use on a new franchise quarterback in the 2015 draft.