Faulk Undergoes MRI

ST. LOUIS (AP) - Rams running back Marshall Faulk, playing with a bruised right knee most of the season, had tests Monday to make sure there was no serious damage. Faulk scored a career-high four touchdowns, two rushing and two receiving, in the Rams' 34-24 victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. Results of an MRI weren't immediately available.

"They don't believe it's anything that would keep him from playing," coach Mike Martz said Monday. "It's a chronic situation that continues to be aggravated." The bruise is inside the joint.

Faulk, who leads the NFL with 1,326 yards from scrimmage, probably won't practice much this week. The Rams play at home against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday night. Faulk separated his shoulder last week against the Kansas City Chiefs, but that injury is not a concern.

Martz appears to be losing patience with Faulk's backup, first-round draft pick Trung Canidate. Canidate has been sidelined with a sore foot since Week 3 and missed most of training camp with a high ankle sprain.

"We've had it checked out several times now with bone scans and MRIs and there's no structural damage in there at all," Martz said. "It's just something he has to learn to deal with and Wednesday he'll start back to practice."

In other injury news, cornerback Todd Lyght (Achilles tendon, hamstring) probably will be out this week and kicker Jeff Wilkins (quadriceps) probably will miss a third game.