Faulk back at practice, may play Sunday

ST. LOUIS -- Marshall Faulk practiced with the Rams on Wednesday, a sign that he could be ready to face the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.

The team, which will be trying to end an 0-3 start, didn't have any immediate news on results of an exam on Faulk's strained neck, however.

Before practice, coach Mike Martz said he was hopeful that team doctors would clear Faulk.

"He doesn't have any neurological problems in terms of numbness, so they felt good it may not be a disc issue," Martz said. "He feels much better, so hopefully we'll have him."

Faulk, who was injured when upended by the Bucs' Derrick Brooks in the second quarter of Monday night's 26-14 loss in Tampa Bay, was scheduled to undergo the exam on Wednesday. It had been scheduled for Tuesday.

He has been listed as questionable, but teammates expect Faulk to play. Rookie Lamar Gordon, the team's third-round draft pick, would start if Faulk can't go.

"I think he will," Gordon said. "He's going to get all right and play, but I'm going to be ready just in case."

Fullback Chris Hetherington said Faulk was a "tough guy."

"He's played through a lot of injuries and he wants to be out there more than anybody," Hetherington said. "I think they're a little hesitant about putting him back in because we need him for the long haul, but he seems ready to play."

Quarterback Kurt Warner believes the Rams would be fine with Faulk or Gordon, who scored on a 21-yard run Monday against the Bucs. Gordon has moved ahead of Trung Canidate, the team's first-round pick in 2000, as the backup to Faulk.

"We'd all want No. 28 in there if we can," Warner said. "But we want the best thing for him and for this team.

"Either one of those guys, I'm excited about having them back there."

Faulk has scored a touchdown in nine consecutive games, two shy of the team record set by Elroy Hirsch in 1950-51.

Warner: Media too critical of winless start

ST. LOUIS --Kurt Warner, the NFL's MVP last year, has seven interceptions and only one touchdown pass during the St. Louis Rams' 0-3 start.

What's wrong? Theories abound. It's his thumb, it's a lack of protection from a shaky offensive line, the defenses have caught up with what used to be the league's highest-flying offense, he's locking on to his receivers, or all of the above.

Warner doesn't mind taking the blame for his passer rating of 69.5, 25th best in the league.

"Sure, I've made mistakes," he said Wednesday. "I'm the guy that handles the ball and I'm the guy that's got to get it to the right person at the right spot. I'm more critical of myself than any of the media, and they're pretty critical right now."

But Warner also wants it known that his critics are all off-base.

"There's things that are being said out there that have no creedence whatsoever," Warner said. "But somebody's got to come up with some kind of reason for something so they make some stuff up.

"It's crazy to think of some of the stuff that is being said because I know it's not the case."

Elsewhere

CHIEFS: Linebacker Lew Bush was arrested early Wednesday for driving under the influence of alcohol, police said. Bush, 32, was released on $600 bond and cited for straddling a lane and DUI.

JETS: Running back Curtis Martin may be held out of Sunday's game at Jacksonville with a sprained left ankle. Martin, off to the worst start of his career, has struggled since hurting the ankle late in the first half of the season opener -- New York's only victory in three games. Martin says he is improving and will be ready for the Jaguars, but coach Herman Edwards said Wednesday he is toying with the idea of resting him.

RAIDERS: Phillip Buch-anon, Oakland's top draft pick this year out of national champion Miami, will start at left corner Sunday against the Titans. The Raiders have said starter Charles Woodson will miss up to six weeks with a fractured right shoulder, which he hurt against the Steelers on Sept. 15.

-- From wire reports