Sam Bradford Injury: If St. Louis Rams Lose QB, Who Carries Offense?

The St. Louis Rams entered the 2011 NFL season as the favorites to win NFC West. Now, they exit Week 1 with some of the most devastating injuries of the weekend.

Quarterback Sam Bradford left yesterday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles with an injury to a finger on his throwing hand. While x-rays were negative, Bradford continued to experience significant pain and numbness. An MRI is scheduled for today, and nerve damage is the fear.

Add to this a quad strain suffered by star running back Steven Jackson, and a dislocated elbow that likely ends wide receiver Danny Amendola's season, and the Rams appear to have a difficult week—or longer—ahead.

Bradford and Jackson make up the core of the Rams' offense, combining for 4,753 of the team's 4,846 yards in 2010. Losing either of the players would be difficult for St. Louis, but losing them both at the same time would be a nightmare.

If Bradford misses the Week 2 contest against the Dallas Cowboys, then it would be on Jackson and fellow back Cadillac Williams to lead the team's offense; backup quarterback A.J. Feeley will likely be unable to match the kind of production that Bradford provides the team.

However, if Jackson is also unavailable to the team next Monday night, then Williams will have to lead the team's rushing attack alone. Offseason acquisition Jerious Norwood, formerly of the Atlanta Falcons, would also carry some of the rushing load.

Without Amendola to catch passes from Feeley, the best they can hope for is an improved performance from free-agent addition Mike Sims-Walker, who has yet to make a splash with his new team. Sims-Walker caught just one pass yesterday, for five yards. Tight end Lance Kendricks will be a more probable target for Feeley than Sims-Walker.

The Rams offense has a handful of proven playmakers, and that's the problem—they've only a handful. After their first layer of depth, there is a major drop-off in both production and talent.

This is about to become painfully clear to the team in the coming week; should Bradford not be able to start next Monday, and should Jackson join him?