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ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis Rams defensive end Chris Long will undergo surgery and is expected to miss most of the season after injuring his left ankle in the opening loss to the Vikings. Coach Jeff Fisher said Wednesday hed not been optimistic about Long, who was hurt tackling Vikings running back Adrian Peterson in the third quarter. Apparently, Long was stepped on from behind. "Ive been here a few years now and its not good when he doesnt get up," Fisher said. "Hes never on the ground." Its the second major hit dealt to the Rams, who lost quarterback Sam Bradford for the year with a knee injury in the preseason. Bradford underwent surgery Monday. Long, the second overall pick in 2008, has never missed a game and has started 85 of 97 in his career. He had 8 1/2 sacks last season and 11 1/2 in 2013 and gave no sign of a serious injury while meeting with media after the opening loss. "Hes a very tough guy," said William Hayes, who inherits the starting job this week at Tampa Bay. "At the end of the day it was mind-boggling I didnt know he was hurt as bad as he was." Fisher said Ethan Westbrooks, who beat out Michael Sam for a backup defensive end spot, could be active this week. Bradford underwent surgery Monday for a second torn ACL in his left knee and is expected to rejoin the team next week. He missed the last nine games of 2013. Long will be placed on the injured reserve-designated to return list, which would sideline him at least six weeks. Fisher wouldnt go into specifics about the surgery, which will be done later Wednesday or early Thursday, but characterized it as "unique." "To know its requiring surgery is a bummer, because if it didnt require hed be out there," middle linebacker James Laurinaitis said. "I remember a couple years ago he had a high ankle (sprain) and couldnt practice, could barely walk. "But he would tape that thing up and go out and play." Fisher said Long also was examined by "several" specialists who agreed surgery was best not only for this season but for his career. "Hes not taking it very well," Fisher told reporters. "Obviously, you guys know him -- his personality is such that he let the team down because he cant be here. Thats what hes most disappointed about." Fisher was optimistic Long, the son of Hall of Fame defensive lineman Howie Long, will return before the end of the season. Hayes has been valuable in the rotation, totalling 12 sacks the previous two years, and will be making his first start in three seasons with St. Louis. He talked with Long and wasnt happy to be moving up at a teammates expense. "He just told me to go out there and have fun, try to make the best of the situation," Hayes said. "I wish him the best." Quarterback Shaun Hill did not practice with a left quadriceps injury that sidelined him for the second half of a 34-6 loss to Minnesota. Fisher said only that Hill was day to day. Austin Davis, who made his NFL debut against the Vikings, would be the starter if Hills not ready. The Rams acquired Case Keenum as insurance last week and Keenum got snaps for the first time in his fourth practice with St. Louis. "Hes starting to feel a little more comfortable in the system," Fisher said. "Hes working hard to get caught up." Fisher said Bradford decided over the weekend to have the surgery. Guard Rodger Saffold was back at practice as hed promised after leaving with a neck injury in the fourth quarter. Rookie defensive back Lamarcus Joyner was limited with a back injury. Ray Spalding Jersey . The Brazil defender was substituted 13 minutes into Wednesdays 2-1 Copa del Rey win at Athletic Bilbao because of a right hamstring problem. Scans revealed a second grade tear which could keep him out for a reported four to six weeks. Tyler Johnson Suns Jersey . HEROES Alex Ovechkin – Scored a pair of goals in Washington’s 4-0 win over Pittsburgh. With 13 goals in the past 13 games, Ovechkin now has 29 goals on the season to lead the league. https://www.thesunslockerroom.com/Elie-Okobo-City-Edition-Jersey/ . LOUIS -- The St. Ricky Rubio Jersey .com) - Colorado forward P. Leandro Barbosa Jersey .com) - Sergio Agueros 63rd-minute goal was enough to lift Manchester City to a 1-0 win over 10-man Manchester United on Sunday at the Etihad Stadium.(Sports Network) - The Cleveland Indians hot streak has put their playoff destiny in nobodys hands but their own. Currently the holders of the ALs first wild card spot, the Tribe can punch their first ticket to the postseason since 2007 on Sunday afternoon with their first ever four-game road sweep of the Minnesota Twins. The Indians have rattled off a season-high nine wins in a row, their longest string of victories since a 10-game run from Aug. 17-27, 2008. Their 5-1 win over the Twins on Saturday put them a game ahead of Tampa Bay in the wild card race. The Rays lost to the Toronto Blue Jays, falling into a tie with the Texas Rangers for the second wild card berth. It also gave Cleveland a magic number of one to lock up home-field advantage for the wild card game and assured the Tribe no worse than a regular-season tiebreaker for the final playoff spot. A loss on Sunday and things could get messy for the Indians. That would create a three-way tie for the two playoff spots if both the Rays and Rangers win today. That would set up two tiebreakers to be played on Monday and Tuesday, respectively. Cleveland would host Tampa Bay on Monday, with the winner advancing and the loser playing at Texas for the second spot. Ubaldo Jimenez will try to prevent the Indians from having to worry about tiebreakers and looks to stay unbeaten this month. The righty is 3-0 with a 1.04 earned run average and 38 strikeouts in five September outings this year. Jimenez did not get a decision last time out versus the Chicago White Sox, scattering two runs on five hits and three walks over 6 1/3 innings. He also fanned seven and is 12-9 with a 3.38 ERA in 31 starts this year. It has been a nice bounce back season for the 29-year-old, who lost 17 games and had a 5.40 ERA in 31 starts last year with the Tribe. Jimenez has faced the Twins once this season and took a 5-1 loss on Aug. 23, though he only allowed two runs and fanned 10 oveer six innings.ddddddddddddHe is 2-3 against them lifetime with a 3.21 ERA in five meetings. Scott Diamond will probably look forward to putting this season behind him today. The Minnesota lefty went 12-9 with a 3.54 ERA in 27 starts last year, but is 6-12 with a 5.54 ERA in 23 outings in 2013 ahead of Sundays start. Diamond has won just once since June 26, losing six of seven decisions. He is coming off a 4-2 setback to Detroit on Tuesday, giving up all four runs on nine hits and a walk in 6 1/3 innings. The 27-year-old is 3-2 with a 3.20 ERA in six lifetime encounters with the Indians, giving up five earned runs over 4 2/3 innings of a loss in his only meeting with them this year. In Saturdays meeting, Scott Kazmir struck out 11 over six innings of one-run ball, while Carlos Santana hit a two-run homer in the victory for Cleveland. "Its exciting. Its fun," Twins manager Terry Francona said. "I know Im supposed to come up with some stuff to say, but its just, you show up and play. We need to be one run better tomorrow and well go from there." Cole De Vries went five innings in his second start of the season and gave up five runs, six hits and a walk for Minnesota. The right-handers seven strikeouts came in the first four innings. "Its frustrating and flustering," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "We havent played good and it has not been fun. I wish I could have all the answers, but the guys are out there and theyre not feeling too good right now. They were pushing to try to win a ballgame. Minnesota has lost five in a row and nine of its last 10 games, assuring that Gardenhire will not reach 1,000 career wins this season. The Twins manager since 2002, Gardenhire is not under contract for next season and is expected to meet with the club after the end of the season to decide his future. Cleveland is 12-6 versus the Twins this season. ' ' '