Martin expects to start season finale against 49ers

ST. LOUIS -- This may be Jamie Martin's last chance to make a good impression, and he doesn't plan on letting a sore knee hold him back.

The Rams' backup quarterback said Thursday he will start the finale Monday night against the San Francisco 49ers as the defending NFC champions wrap up a disappointing season.

Martin has been disappointing in two starts and all but a few plays of two other games, producing 43 total points. He threw three interceptions in last week's 30-10 loss at Seattle.

"I don't look at it like this is the make-or-break deal," Martin said. "Every time you go on the field you're getting evaluated, and if you play bad you're not going to really be around very long.

"If you play good, you're going to have a job."

Martin was listed as probable, but was held out of practice Thursday as the Rams (6-9) returned after two days off, with third-stringer Scott Covington taking all the snaps. He expected to return to full duty on Friday after getting treatment on Thursday.

To this point, doctors have not been able to drain the knee of fluid.

"It's feeling a lot better," Martin said. "I just don't want to push it too much today and have it swell up."

Covington was signed in October after being released by the Cincinnati Bengals at the end of the preseason. He was confident he could do the job if called upon.

"This offense is complex, but it's not that bad," Covington said. "I'm ready. If that means to start, that's great. If that means to come in when needed, that's fine, too."

Coach Mike Martz said running back Marshall Faulk would be the "disaster quarterback," if something happens to the first two. Martz has often said Faulk knows the offense as well as anyone, and thinks like a coach on the field.

"As a disaster, we're going to have Marshall ready to take snaps because he knows the running game," Martz said. "He can do all the handoffs, and he's got an arm. He throws the ball well enough to where we'll have a mini-package for him."

The Rams also signed quarterback Ryan Helming, who was with the team in training camp, on Thursday to the practice squad.

Martin could barely walk on Monday, the day after he fumbled on a late-game hit against the Seahawks. He looked a lot more comfortable, at least as a pedestrian, on Thursday.

"Right now it's just swelling," Martin said. "It's not letting me bend my knee, and it's hard to even drop back. But once the swelling gets out, hopefully we'll drain it and be good to go."

Martin has eight interceptions and only four touchdown passes. He had difficulty throwing the long ball on Sunday, with his longest completion only 18 yards.

"I thought I made some good plays, but the turnovers killed us," Martin said. "Obviously I made some dumb plays in that area."