Rams' defensive end Chris Long misses practice – NFL News
St. Louis Rams defensive end Chris Long, who is the only player in the team to have achieved glory this season, missed the practice session on Tuesday owing to an ankle injury. Long, however, is hopeful to return in the next practice
session and play the game on the Christmas Eve against Pittsburgh Steelers.
“It bugs me not being able to practice. I’d like to be out there,” Long said.
Long is the only ray of hope in the bleak Rams’ season. He is playing is fourth season and his stats continue to improve every year. This season, with two games still left, he has already recorded his career-high sacks.
In the year 2008, Long played his first professional season and managed 4.0 sacks. In the next year, he improved to 5.0 sacks. Last year, he was much better and recorded 8.5 sacks. In 14 games this season, he has 13.0 sacks to
his credit.
Long is well aware of bad-patch the Rams are going through this season and believes that victories are more important than personal records.
"There has been a lot of adversity," Long said. "I take pride in our entire unit trying to play through some adversity, especially on the D-line. I feel like I'm proud of my D-line mates. I feel like I have been able to enjoy some
successes individually, and that's all great. But I would rather have some wins than some numbers.”
The Rams have only won two games this season. After facing humiliation in 12 games, they are placed at the bottom of the National Football Conference West division.
Despite the Rams’ constant slump, Long continued to inspire the observers. In terms of sacks this season, he is ranked fifth in the National Football League ranking. However, he thinks that there are other players in the league
who are much better than him.
“It’s a great honour, but it’s not really why I play the game,” he said.
Rams defensive coordinator Ken Flajole, while praising Long, went on to say that he is a Pro Bowl player. Not just Ken, Rams Coach Steve Spagnuolo also believes that his defensive end has got all the qualities of a champion.
The coach appreciated Long for showing improvement every year and said that he is beginning to feel comfortable with this franchise.
Meanwhile, Rams’ defensive end Robert Quinn has also said that his fellow, Long, is a hard worker, who always gives credit of his success to others around him.
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