PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : RAMS : Piel, Jenkins Might Sit Out

Defensive tackle Mike Piel (dislocated left shoulder) and right tackle Robert Jenkins (hyperextended left toe) apparently will miss the Rams’ game this week against the San Francisco 49ers after getting hurt Sunday night. Their absences would further thin the injury-wracked offensive and defensive lines.

Coach John Robinson is holding his breath the next two games, hoping the Rams make it safely to the NFC West bye week Oct. 6.

“Obviously, the injury list is accumulating for us,” Robinson said Monday. “We’re looking at two games now where we’re going to have to play shorthanded. We’re going to have to find a way to win these two or split to stay in the hunt.

“I think if we can get through these next two games, our team will get reassembled and we can move forward.”

Robinson said he didn’t play tailback Cleveland Gary in Sunday night’s loss to the New Orleans Saints because the Rams’ ground game never got anything going.

“(The) second half is where I really wanted to play him,” Robinson said. “I went in at halftime and said, ‘OK, as soon as we get something moving . . . we get some rhythm going in the run.’

“I envisioned the run being successful in the second half. But we had, I think, six runs in the second half. We had five possessions in the second half and did not have a first down until the game was (nearly) over.”

When asked if Gary would play this week, Robinson’s response was slightly reminiscent of the way he spoke last year about since-traded Gaston Green. But it’s unlikely he would forget Gary the way he forgot Green.

“I see Cleveland playing, same as I saw it last week,” Robinson said. “Sometimes the way I see it doesn’t quite turn out, but I see him playing.”

The 24-7 loss to New Orleans means the Rams have been outscored, 149-55, in their last five prime-time appearances, with two more night games to go this season. “Maybe we’re getting up too early in the morning,” Robinson said.