Bartkowski to Sit Out Next Game

Ram quarterback Steve Bartkowski, still bothered by a chronic abdominal muscle pull, is expected to miss Friday night’s preseason game with the Denver Broncos in Mile High Stadium.

Bartkowski, who aggravated the injury during last Saturday night’s game with the San Diego Chargers, said he could play if he had to, but Ram Coach John Robinson isn’t taking any chances with the season opener less than two weeks away.

“It doesn’t take a great deal to aggravate it,” Bartkowski said of the injury. “Every time I throw the ball with some velocity on it it pulls again.”

Bartkowski has been bothered off and on with the strain for 11 years. He aggravated it while warming up before the Rams exhibition game with the San Francisco 49ers and hurt it again during the Charger game, when he underthrew Bobby Duckworth on a deep pass early in the game.

“It’s been a concern,” he said. “Early in camp, I figured it was just like all the rest of the pulls and I could push through it. But I threw that one and it snapped, and it’s been a struggle ever since.”

With Bartkowski hurt and Dieter Brock out a couple more weeks with an injured knee, Steve Dils will start at quarterback against the Broncos.

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