St. Louis Rams lose kick returner Derek Stanley for season December 16
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
"The Rams' injured-reserve list will grow to 11 when wide receiver/returner Derek Stanley is added this week. Stanley tore the anterior cruciate ligament and suffered cartilage damage to his left knee in Sunday's 23-20 loss to Seattle.
Surgery will be performed "as soon as the swelling goes down, probably two to three weeks," coach Jim Haslett said Monday. Stanley will face six to eight months of rehabilitation.
"That's a shame, because I thought the kid was coming on and was helping us some," Haslett said. "He'll have to fight his way back. That's a tough injury for him."
Stanley, a seventh-round draft pick last year out of Division III Wisconsin-Whitewater, was hurt while running an end-around midway through the first quarter. "He just planted his foot and his knee twisted," Haslett said.
Adding to the pain, Stanley fumbled and Seahawks safety Jordan Babineaux scampered 24 yards for a touchdown.
KICK RETURNERS
Since Dante Hall suffered a season-ending ankle injury in early November, Stanley had taken over most of the kickoff and punt return duties. Now, those jobs are open again.
"We don't have a lot of options, because we've lost two or three (returners) already," Haslett said. "We'll probably go with (Kenneth) Darby on kickoffs and then Dane (Looker) on punts."
Darby averaged 29.5 yards on two kickoffs Sunday after Stanley went down. Looker returned one punt for 10 yards.
DARBY DO-RIGHT
Darby, a running back signed off Atlanta's practice squad Oct. 14, has impressed with his pass blocking and receiving. He was Steven Jackson's primary backup vs. the Seahawks, perhaps indicating that he has moved past Antonio Pittman into that role.
Darby carried four times for 29 yards. "He made a few mistakes. ... (But) he runs hard, he plays hard," Haslett said. "I think he's going to be a pretty good player."
For the first time in eight games since returning from a leg injury, Pittman didn't have a touch."
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