Miller Struggles in Pain : Pro football: Ram quarterback got pain-killing shots for ailing ribs, an apparent reason for woeful passing.

Chris Miller, who came to the Rams with a reputation for being one of the game’s most accurate passers, has the worst completion percentage among the 28 NFL starting quarterbacks after two weeks.

Something must be wrong, and apparently there is.

Team officials don’t like to discuss such things, but Miller received three pain-killing injections in his rib cage for Sunday’s game in Atlanta.

“Let’s just say that it hurts to cough and sneeze, let alone throw,” said Miller, who has completed 44.4% of his passes this season. “My ribs were killing me last week, but I didn’t want to give Atlanta any more fire, what with me coming back there for the first time and all.”

Coach Chuck Knox said team physicians cleared Miller to play last week, and Miller has assured him he is fit for duty.

“He threw the ball very well in practice today,” Knox said. “He says he’s fine.”

Miller said he does not want it to appear that he is making excuses for his poor play.

Miller suffered the rib injury in the Rams’ season-opening victory over Arizona when Cardinal defensive end Eric Swann smashed his helmet into Miller’s ribs.

Miller balked at having X-rays taken but he said he has been receiving medication since for the persistent pain.

“I got a bunch of cartilage damage and bumps all over my ribs,” Miller said. “The bones aren’t broken, but there were adhesions and it was pretty painful.”

“Sometimes it just kills you to throw, and certain throws hurt more than others,” he said. “The jogging, too, and that’s why I was going into the locker room last week and riding the bike instead of running. But it is getting better.”