ESPN NFC West Blog

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Jackson

Coaches like to say players put themselves at additional injury risk when they miss training camp while holding out for more money. The truth is that injuries happen to lots of players every week and it's tough to prove a holdout contributed.

Rams coach Jim Haslett suspects Steven Jackson's thigh injury could trace to his holdout for a new contract. Jackson told reporters he wasn't so sure:

"Coaches bring that up all the time and you try to go against the odds when you see a statistic that says that a guy is likely to become injured during a holdout year. Last year I did not have a holdout and I still came up hurt so I think the football season is long and gruesome.

"You have freak injuries like this because this injury wasn't from any hit; it was because my muscle gave way. I asked the doctor if there was anything that I could do to prevent it in the future and he said no. It is one of those things that if it happens, you have to rehab it correctly. If there is anything that I have learned from this injury it would be that if I feel good maybe I should give it another day or two."

As for bringing in another running back as insurance next season? Jackson said it wouldn't matter because he'll beat out all comers and "I am not going to share my carries. I understand that they have to have an insurance policy, but that is just my mentality." Still no word on when the Rams will have Jackson back on the field.