"Seeking some rest and relaxation during the Rams' bye week, running back Steven Jackson was headed for his hometown of Las Vegas after practice Wednesday.

"I will spend a little time with family and friends, and just enjoy the next four days off," Jackson said.

He can use the break. Jackson has fought through two substantial injuries this year, a groin pull and a broken finger that required surgery. Still, he hasn't missed a start and with 676 yards, stands sixth in the NFL in rushing.

"That guy's tough," quarterback Sam Bradford said after Sunday's 20-10 victory over Carolina. "For him to be out there today was huge for us."

Jackson also persevered during most of the second half of the 2009 season despite a herniated disk in his back. He finished with 1,416 yards, the second-highest total of his career, then underwent offseason surgery to repair the damage.

Two pins were inserted in his finger Oct. 25, a day after he was hurt at Tampa Bay. With his hand in a brace, Jackson ran for 59 yards on 23 carries vs. Carolina.

"Originally the injury (was) six to eight weeks," Jackson said. "When we play the 49ers (on Nov. 14), that'll put us at Week 3 from the day that it happened. I'm hoping that I could probably after the Atlanta game (on Nov. 21), if things look good on the X-ray, get the pins taken out. So we're probably looking at two more games of having the pins in."

Jackson's admiration for the backs he followed as a youngster motivates him to keep plowing ahead, injuries or not.

"Some of the backs that I admired growing up were tough football players," he said. "You hear about Emmitt Smith and playing with a separated shoulder. Those kind of stories that I heard growing up kind of fueled me to want to be a tough, old-school type of football player — someone that's gritty and willing to put it on the line week in and week out.

"Professional football is a violent sport, and ... it's not always about numbers and statistics. It's about giving your team an advantage. In my case, keeping a defense honest."

This year, Jackson's determination is being rewarded. At 4-4, the Rams are a half-game out of first place in the NFC West. "I think we're a team that has started to come together," Jackson said. The result is meaningful November football for the first time in four years."