Rams RB Jackson, Lions RB Best, Vikings TE Shiancoe all sidelined in Week 3 games

RBs Jackson, Best sidelined by injuries in Week 3

The St. Louis Rams earned their first victory of the season — without Steven Jackson. They hope their star running back is on the field instead of the sideline next week.

Jackson injured his groin on a 2-yard run in the second quarter of the Rams’ 30-16 win over the Washington Redskins on Sunday. He was down for several minutes, received treatment on the sideline before walking to the locker room.

“All the signs point to that it’s not a tear,” Jackson said. “You never know until we see the MRI. I’m just praying and hoping it’s not going to be a serious injury. I hope I can come back and not sit out a long time.”

Coach Steve Spagnuolo was also hopeful that Jackson, who’ll undergo an MRI exam Monday, could play next week at home against Seattle.

Detroit rookie running back Jahvid Best left the Lions’ 24-10 loss at Minnesota with pain in his right big toe in the third quarter and didn’t return.

After five touchdowns and 268 yards from scrimmage in his first two NFL games, Best was limited to 26 yards rushing on seven attempts and two catches for 13 yards by the Vikings.

Coach Jim Schwartz said Best was also bothered by his toe in the season opener two weeks ago, but Best said this was a “totally new” injury.

“I got tackled on a pass I caught over the middle,” Best said. “They wrapped me up and tackled me, and I got up and my toe wasn’t feeling right.”

In the same game, the Vikings lost two offensive starters to leg injuries: tight end Visanthe Shiancoe and center John Sullivan.

Coach Brad Childress said both players should be all right, especially since the Vikings have their bye next week and don’t play again until Oct. 11, a Monday night road game against the New York Jets.

Shiancoe was hurt early in the third quarter. Team trainers were working on the back of his right leg, in the hamstring area. He returned for one series, then spent the rest of the second half wearing a cap on the sideline.

Sullivan hurt his left leg on the first play from scrimmage, and was replaced by utility backup Ryan Cook. Sullivan missed a large chunk of training camp because of a calf injury.

San Diego star linebacker Shawne Merriman left the Chargers’ 27-20 loss at Seattle after injuring his left calf in the first quarter. He was seen on the Chargers’ bench with a wrap on his left leg.

Merriman’s backup, Larry English, was inactive for Sunday’s game with a foot injury.

The Chargers also appeared to lose starting right guard Louis Vasquez, who injured his left knee after getting caught in a pile. Vasquez was taken off the field on a cart.

Seattle linebacker Aaron Curry left in the second quarter with a hamstring injury, and cornerback Marcus Trufant injured an ankle in the third quarter.

In other injuries:

— Denver fullback Spencer Larsen was knocked out of the Broncos’ 27-13 loss to Indianapolis with an ankle injury. Also, Broncos rookie Demaryius Thomas couldn’t hold on for a 20-yard TD and came down hard on his left arm and appeared to hurt either his shoulder or wrist.

— Saints cornerback Tracy Porter left New Orleans’ 27-24 loss to Atlanta with a tight right hamstring and missed most of regulation before returning briefly in overtime.

— Panthers LB Jamar Williams (neck) didn’t return after a first-quarter collision on a punt return in Carolina’s 20-7 loss to Cincinnati.

— Baltimore defensive end Cory Redding left in the third quarter of the Ravens’ 24-17 win over Cleveland, and did not return.