PRO FOOTBALL : DAILY REPORT : RAMS : Delpino Probably to Miss 2-3 Weeks

Running back Robert Delpino suffered strained ligaments in his left knee during Sunday’s loss to the San Francisco 49ers and probably will miss two to three weeks, Coach Chuck Knox said Monday.

When Delpino hurt his knee, it was originally feared he had torn ligaments. But a magnetic-resonance imaging test Monday showed no ligament tear, and Delpino might not be placed on the injured-reserve list.

“We’ll probably make a decision (depending on) what Robert Delpino looks like on Wednesday, try to get an idea as to when he’s going to come back, then we’ll make a decision whether we’re going to carry a player inactive for a couple weeks,” Knox said. “We’ve got a bye coming up (Oct. 25). We’ll make that decision this week.”

Wide receiver Jeff Chadwick suffered a cracked rib Sunday, but Knox said Chadwick shouldn’t miss any time. Linebacker Roman Phifer injured his elbow but also should be ready for Sunday’s game at New Orleans.

It was a loss that sent them to a 2-3 record, but Knox said he couldn’t help but feel that the Rams accomplished a lot Sunday.

“I feel we played the best game that we’ve played this year,” Knox said Monday. “And it’s tough to say that in a game in which you get beat.

“But we were going against a good football team at their place, and I just hope that this is something that we can take the positive things that happened . . . and continue to build on that.

“They competed yesterday,” Knox said. “But you’ve got to bring that week after week. The schedule doesn’t get any easier with New Orleans . . . But I felt good about the way they executed, (and about the) effort we had yesterday.”

Quarterback Jim Everett had his own interpretation of the Rams’ close call against the two-touchdown favorite 49ers.

“We’re nobody’s 16-point (under-) dog, I’ll tell you that,” Everett said. “We plan on not ever being that.”