Rams' running back Steven Jackson's new deal could be cut short if he reaches certain statistical milestones, according to St. Louis Post-Dispatch. According to league sources, Jackson needs to average 1,200 yards rushing and 400 yards receiving over the first four years of his new deal to void the final two years of his six-year deal. Jackson has averaged 1,199 rushing yards and 466 receiving yards during his three seasons as a starter in St. Louis.

Rams' star running back Steven Jackson signed a six-year, $44M contract Thursday, a day after agreeing to end a 27-day holdout, and was on the field for practice after completing a physical, according to an Associated Press report.

Steven Jackson evidently is set to return to the Rams. Jackson will travel to St. Louis on Wednesday in an attempt to end his holdout and negotiate a new deal with the Rams, according to a report by FoxSports.com.

Despite rumblings over the weekend that there might be some movement on the Steven Jackson front, sources familiar with the negotiations say there was no dialogue between the Rams and Jackson's agent save for a brief phone call Friday between the parties. As of Sunday, the Pro Bowl running back had missed 24 days of training camp and the preseason, 24 practices and two preseason games. At $15,116 per day, his fine total stands at $362,784 ? or just under the minimum base salary for a second-year NFL player. For the first time, Rams coach Scott Linehan conceded Sunday that time is of the essence in getting Jackson ready for the season opener Sept. 7 in Philadelphia. "It is getting critical to where time now becomes more of an issue for just the physical part of getting ready for the opener," Linehan said. "Every day we miss now ? does start to factor in as to what the workload will be from the start. "I know he's working hard. And I know he's training. And he'll be in very good shape when he does get in."

The Rams have been without running back Steven Jackson, who has failed to report to camp in a contract dispute that has cost him $302,320 in fines so far.

Steven Jackson owes the Rams more than $100,000 in fines because of his ongoing holdout, but the team doesn't appear to be panicking, according to Pro Football Weekly. Jackson figures to be among the five highest paid running backs once he signs a new deal with the team, but the disagreement appears to lie in the amount of guaranteed money St. Louis is willing to give him. Team insiders claim Jackson is looking for at least $20 million in guaranteed money, higher than the Rams would like to shell out.