On the last play of Thursday's practice, the St. Louis Rams suffered a key injury that left them wishing they had cut practice short.
Rams starting cornerback Tye Hill inadvertantly collided with one of his safeties, leaving him with three or four broken bones in his back and out of action the next four to six weeks.
"The best-case scenario is probably two games," coach Scott Linehan told the Associated Press.
Now, when the Rams host their division-rival San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, Hill will be on the bench and cornerback Lenny Walls is expected to be in the starting lineup. Walls was signed as a free agent from Kansas City during the offseason.
Hill, a first-round draft pick in 2006, joined a growing list of key Rams players who have been hurt already.
Guard Richie Incognito will miss his second straight game with a high ankle sprain. Backup tackle Todd Steussie will miss at least half of the season with a broken foot sustained in the preseason. Linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa, who hurt his ankle against Carolina, is listed as questionable.
Hill knew right away the injury was serious. It happened when Hill and safety Oshiomogho Atogwe ran into each other on a passing drill.
"I couldn't breathe at first," Hill said.
Walls played nickel back against Carolina and was confident in preparing for the start.
"I've played this game for six years," he said. "It's no big deal to me. I'm relaxed and ready to go."
Rookie Jonathan Wade will take Walls' spot as nickel back.
"The next guy goes in," he said. "There's no devastation. That's why you have a full roster. Injuries are part of the game."
The injury to Hill leaves St. Louis with just three cornerbacks. Linehan said a roster move will be made this weekend. Fakhir Brown is serving a four-game suspension for violating the league's substance-abuse policy.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
