ST. LOUIS -- As if an 0-4 start isn't bad enough, things got even worse for the St. Louis Rams on Monday with news tight end Randy McMichael will be lost for the rest of the season.
McMichael suffered a broken tibia and torn ligament in his right leg in the Rams' 31-14 loss to Buffalo on Sept. 28.
The team decided today to put him on injured reserve, ending his 2008 season.
Third-year player Joe Klopfenstein will start at tight end, beginning Sunday at Washington. Klopfenstein started as a rookie in 2006 before the Rams signed McMichael to a free agent contract.
The Rams expected big things out of McMichael in 2008.
Because of the many injuries that plagued the offensive line last year, McMichael often found himself working as a glorified third tackle as he stayed in to block instead of catching passes.
Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press