St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford will miss the NFL season after tearing a left knee ligament in a pre-season game against Cleveland on Saturday.
Rams head coach Jeff Fisher said an MRI exam had confirmed the injury, which was the same one that sidelined the former number one draft pick for the team’s last nine games of last season.
“The news was devastating to him as you can appreciate,” Fisher said. “Anyone that’s gone through that procedure and the rehab understands, and to have it happen again within the calendar year is very, very difficult.”
Bradford went down on the game’s opening drive after throwing an incomplete pass.
He was pressured and hit high by Browns defensive lineman Armonty Bryant.
“It wasn’t a high impact,” Fisher said, noting that a variety of circumstances can contribute to Anterior Cruciate Ligament injuries.
“This was just kind of a hyperextension and you just had impact come from the outside,” Fisher said. “The knee was locked and something has to give, and unfortunately the ACL gave.”
Backup Shaun Hill steps into the starting quarterback role. The 34-year-old last started an NFL game for Detroit in 2010.
“We move forward as a football team,” Fisher said. “Shaun is our guy.”