Though he's playing with two broken ribs, Marc Bulger has no problem with opening up the Rams' dormant offense. The 0-3 Rams had a multitude of safe plays last week to limit wear and tear on their quarterback, who was hurt in Week 2 when the Panthers sacked him six times. The result: Bulger was sacked only once, but the Rams couldn't score in a 24-3 loss to the Buccaneers. Despite a wealth of talent on offense and a coach who rose from the ranks as an offensive coordinator, the Rams have scored only two touchdowns in three weeks. Coach Scott Linehan said last week he was just trying to take care of Bulger, who signed a six-year, $65 million contract extension in training camp.

St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson will miss at least one week with a partial tear of his left groin, an injury sustained in the fourth quarter of Sunday's 24-3 loss at Tampa Bay. Rookie Brian Leonard, a second-round pick from Rutgers, will get his first start Sunday at Dallas. Coach Scott Linehan said Jackson would be week to week. The 0-3 Rams learned they lost Jackson a day after guard Mark Setterstrom was lost for the season with a torn left knee ligament and cartilage damage. Setterstrom is the second lineman the Rams have lost this season, after seven-time Pro Bowl tackle Orlando Pace injured his shoulder in the opener. Linehan said Jackson, who had 115 yards on 30 carries, was hurt making a cut. He said Jackson stayed in the game for a while after being hurt but said it was "noticeable" that Jackson was injured.

Orlando Pace is done for the season with a serious shoulder injury. Rams coach Scott Linehan confirmed that bad news Monday afternoon during his news conference. Pace suffered a torn labrum and rotator cuff during Sunday?s 27-13 loss to the Carolina Panthers. "I feel real bad, obviously, for Orlando," Linehan said. "He worked very, very hard to come back from his triceps injury a year ago."

Steve Smith conjured echoes of the 2003 playoffs with another long touchdown catch that propelled the Carolina Panthers and quieted the same St. Louis crowd. Smith outsprinted Tye Hill on a 68-yard catch for the go-ahead play in Carolina's 27-13 opening victory on Sunday. As Smith eased into the end zone, Hill could only watch as he stumbled and then slid on his stomach for several yards. "Hey, I make plays," Smith said. "That's what I'm here to do."

No. 2 quarterback Doug Johnson was released Saturday by the Bengals, who replaced him by getting Ryan Fitzpatrick from the Rams for a conditional draft pick. Johnson was dumped a day after he threw a pair of interceptions in a 14-6 preseason loss to Indianapolis, another poor showing that prompted the Bengals make the trade.