Tough break for Mark Setterstrom

For some players, injuries just seem to come naturally, despite talent, work ethic and anything else about the player, they just can't escape the injury bug. That sums up Mark Setterstrom, the St. Louis Rams backup offensive lineman, who now faces a season on the sidelines with a torn triceps, the second season Setterstrom will have missed because of injury since knee trouble kept him out for all of 2008. 

It's a damn shame. Setterstrom is a good player, who probably could be a starter. The seventh round pick from 2006 earned his first starting gig his rookie season, playing admirably filling in for other injured starters in the last season the Rams offense was able to accumulate yards and points. In 2007, he landed the starting left guard job during camp, only to have a knee injury end his season after three games. He got work last year in nine games, starting three late in the year. 

Removing the tragedy of Setterstrom's story, it's not the worst loss the Rams could suffer. They have some depth at guard with John Greco (who has to prove himself this year) and Adam Goldberg (better at OG than OT, but might be needed at OT), and with Hank Fraley on board now they have a backup center with lots of starting experience. It's fair to wonder about Setterstrom's effectiveness after an injury history like that. 

If you look at the free agents the Rams have added this offseason, you'll notice something they all have in common besides their experience: they've all been relatively healthy throughout their careers. The afore mentioned Fraley, DTs Fred Robinson and Chris Hovan and CB Kevin Dockery have never missed significant amounts of time because of injury. That can't be overlooked since they all provide depth at positions where the Rams had experienced significant injury troubles not only among their starters but among the backups as well. 

Still, it really stinks for Setterstrom who went from a seventh round pick to an NFL starter in just two seasons. That's the dream, right there. The former Golden Gopher is also one of two players from the 2006 draft class still contributing to the Rams - the other is DE Victor Adeyanju.