ST. LOUIS (Dec. 21, 2005) -- St. Louis Rams quarterback Marc Bulger was placed on injured reserve and will miss the rest of the season with a shoulder injury.
The Rams also placed middle linebacker Chris Claiborne on injured reserve, raising the number of St. Louis players on IR to nine.
Bulger will miss his fifth consecutive game Dec. 24 with an injury sustained against the Arizona Cardinals on Nov. 20.
Rookie Ryan Fitzpatrick has started the past three games, but interim coach Joe Vitt said he hasn't decided whether Fitzpatrick or Jamie Martin will start against the San Francisco 49ers.
Martin took most of the reps in practice, but Fitzpatrick will get the bulk of the work Dec. 22.
"We have another day of practice," Vitt said. "We're going to look at Fitz tomorrow. Fitz is a little sore."
Claiborne has been hampered by a knee injury the team has kept quiet. He was in uniform but did not play last week.
Trev Faulk will make his fourth start in five games at middle linebacker on Dec. 24.
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