"The Rams had every reason to fear the worst when wide receiver Donnie Avery fell hard on his left hip and limped to the sideline early in the second quarter Sunday.

"It's the same hip I played on last year with a crack in it," Avery said after the 23-20 overtime loss at Jacksonville. "I'm just hoping for something positive."

The fracture, suffered early in training camp in Mequon, Wis., kept Avery out for most of the preseason. It never fully healed during the regular season, although Avery amassed 53 catches, 674 yards and three touchdowns as a rookie.

Good news arrived Monday: An MRI exam showed no crack this time. Coach Steve Spagnuolo said Avery would be day-to-day this week, as the winless Rams prepare for unbeaten Indianapolis on Sunday at the Edward Jones Dome.

"They're calling it a bruise. I'm sure he's sore," Spagnuolo said. "I know one thing: He was already talking about getting back out there (Sunday) in the locker room. He was talking about, 'I'll be out there practicing, Coach, I'll be out there.' That's him. He wants to come back."

Avery, the first wideout selected in the 2008 draft, got off to a rocky start this year. He fumbled the season-opening kickoff at Seattle, then lost the ball inside the Washington 10-yard line the next week in a 9-7 loss.

But he'd been rounding back into form. Avery posted season highs with five receptions for 87 yards, including a 27-yard touchdown, last week vs. Minnesota. He'd already scored on a 17-yard toss from Marc Bulger on Sunday before he was hurt.

RISKY BUSINESS?

Later in the second quarter, Tim Carter had to be helped off. That left the Rams with just two wideouts, Keenan Burton and Danny Amendola.

Carter missed only one play, however. Had he stayed out, Spagnuolo said tight end Daniel Fells would've manned a wide receiver spot.

Asked whether dressing only four wideouts was risky, Spagnuolo said, "I don't think we'd do it any differently. The numbers at one position are tied into all of the others. As soon as you add one somewhere, you've got to take away from somewhere else" on the 45-man game-day roster.

BARTELL TO BE TESTED

Cornerback Ron Bartell suffered a mild concussion in the overtime period and will undergo a neurological exam today to help determine a projection for his return.

The other injuries are considered minor: defensive end C.J. Ah You (sprained ankle), linebacker Larry Grant (bruised ribs), defensive end James Hall (groin), guard Richie Incognito (sprained ankle) and linebacker Will Witherspoon (hip, back).

Also, Spagnuolo reported that safety James Butler, who has missed three games with a knee injury, worked out Monday without any problems. "So hopefully we can get him out there and get him back in the fold," Spagnuolo said."