Steven Jackson - Steven Jackson's persistent thigh injury is no surprise to Rams coach Jim Haslett, who factored in down time after the running back's 27-day training camp holdout. "It happens all the time," Haslett said. "You can run all you want, you can lift weights all you want, but until you put pads on and you actually cut and move at full speed, you can't replicate that until you actually do it." Haslett noted it's the same in any sport, that the body needs time to adjust. "That goes back to when I was playing," said Haslett, a former NFL linebacker. "Guys that don't go to training camp get hurt." Jackson will miss his fourth game in five weeks when the Rams (2-8) play the Bears (5-5) on Sunday. He disagreed Thursday with Haslett's blanket assessment, countering that injuries are bound to occur to players who take a pounding. ( 11/20/2008 ) 
Fantasy Analysis: Jackson didn't report this season until Aug. 21 after getting a six-year, $44 million deal. But he pointed out he attended training camp in 2007, yet still missed four games with a bulging disc in his back and a torn groin muscle. "Coaches bring that up all the time," Jackson said. "I think the football season is long and gruesome, and you have freak injuries like this. This injury wasn't from any hit, it was just that my muscle gave way." Jackson said doctors told him the injury was not preventable, and that the best way to get back on the field is to do rehab and be patient. For now, keep an eye on Jackson's rehab and hope he can return in Week 13 against Miami. When healthy, Jackson is a No. 2 Fantasy RB this year.
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