Rams running back Steven Jackson underwent back surgery in early April to repair a herniated disc that he sustained late last season, the *St. Louis Post-Dispatch* reported Tuesday night.
Jackson suffered the injury during the Rams' Nov. 22 home game against the Arizona Cardinals and missed one game after that. He had originally hoped rest and rehabilitation would be enough to recover, but that didn't go as planned, and Jackson opted for surgery. The Post-Dispatch reported that it took place in California less than a month ago, adding that doctors removed the herniated piece of the disc.
"It was a minor procedure," Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo told the Post-Dispatch. "He feels great. It's really not a big deal."
Even so, Spagnuolo said Jackson -- who was voted to the Pro Bowl after rushing for 1,416 yards but opted to miss the game -- probably will miss at least the start of organized team activities, which begin May 18. And there's a chance that Jackson could be held out of practices until the start of training camp at the end of July.
The Rams have Kenneth Darby and Chris Ogbonnaya as returning veterans behind Jackson on the depth chart.
The team recently met with former Philadelphia Eagles running back Brian Westbrook. Westbrook -- who has his own health concerns, including two concussions suffered last season -- took a physical for the team, but he left without a contract and is weighing his options.
