Rams guard leaves practice with numbness in right leg, foot

MEQUON, Wis. -- St. Louis Rams guard Mark Setterstrom left before practice Tuesday with numbness in his right leg and foot, which the team believed may have been caused by a brace pinching on a nerve.

That assessment appeared to be confirmed Tuesday night when Setterstrom walked without effort as he left the team dining hall.

A precautionary MRI exam was ordered for the third-year player, who had season-ending knee surgery after the third game last season. Setterstrom was one of three offensive line starters to finish the year on injured reserve, a big reason for the Rams' 3-13 season.

Setterstrom wears a brace on both knees.

Rookie wide receiver Donnie Avery, the team's second-round pick, cracked a bone in his pelvis. Coach Scott Linehan said it was a very small crack and believed he'd be sidelined no longer than a week or two, with rest prescribed.

"It's an unusual injury, but not a serious injury," Linehan said. "I think it's more of a pain tolerance type thing."

The Rams signed 315-pound defensive tackle Henry Smith, released by the Patriots on June 12 after spending the offseason in their conditioning program. Rookie defensive tackle Josh Thompson, sidelined by a torn plantar fascia, was waived with an injury settlement.

Tight end Anthony Becht has a hamstring pull that could keep him out a week, and linebacker Chris Draft did not dress because of lower back stiffness.