ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis Rams defensive end Chris Long will undergo surgery and is expected to miss most of the season after injuring his left ankle in the opening loss to the Vikings. Coach Jeff Fisher said Wednesday hed not been optimistic about Long, who was hurt tackling Vikings running back Adrian Peterson in the third quarter. Apparently, Long was stepped on from behind. "Ive been here a few years now and its not good when he doesnt get up," Fisher said. "Hes never on the ground." Its the second major hit dealt to the Rams, who lost quarterback Sam Bradford for the year with a knee injury in the preseason. Bradford underwent surgery Monday. Long, the second overall pick in 2008, has never missed a game and has started 85 of 97 in his career. He had 8 1/2 sacks last season and 11 1/2 in 2013 and gave no sign of a serious injury while meeting with media after the opening loss. "Hes a very tough guy," said William Hayes, who inherits the starting job this week at Tampa Bay. "At the end of the day it was mind-boggling I didnt know he was hurt as bad as he was." Fisher said Ethan Westbrooks, who beat out Michael Sam for a backup defensive end spot, could be active this week. Bradford underwent surgery Monday for a second torn ACL in his left knee and is expected to rejoin the team next week. He missed the last nine games of 2013. Long will be placed on the injured reserve-designated to return list, which would sideline him at least six weeks. Fisher wouldnt go into specifics about the surgery, which will be done later Wednesday or early Thursday, but characterized it as "unique." "To know its requiring surgery is a bummer, because if it didnt require hed be out there," middle linebacker James Laurinaitis said. "I remember a couple years ago he had a high ankle (sprain) and couldnt practice, could barely walk. "But he would tape that thing up and go out and play." Fisher said Long also was examined by "several" specialists who agreed surgery was best not only for this season but for his career. "Hes not taking it very well," Fisher told reporters. "Obviously, you guys know him -- his personality is such that he let the team down because he cant be here. Thats what hes most disappointed about." Fisher was optimistic Long, the son of Hall of Fame defensive lineman Howie Long, will return before the end of the season. Hayes has been valuable in the rotation, totalling 12 sacks the previous two years, and will be making his first start in three seasons with St. Louis. He talked with Long and wasnt happy to be moving up at a teammates expense. "He just told me to go out there and have fun, try to make the best of the situation," Hayes said. "I wish him the best." Quarterback Shaun Hill did not practice with a left quadriceps injury that sidelined him for the second half of a 34-6 loss to Minnesota. Fisher said only that Hill was day to day. Austin Davis, who made his NFL debut against the Vikings, would be the starter if Hills not ready. The Rams acquired Case Keenum as insurance last week and Keenum got snaps for the first time in his fourth practice with St. Louis. "Hes starting to feel a little more comfortable in the system," Fisher said. "Hes working hard to get caught up." Fisher said Bradford decided over the weekend to have the surgery. Guard Rodger Saffold was back at practice as hed promised after leaving with a neck injury in the fourth quarter. Rookie defensive back Lamarcus Joyner was limited with a back injury. Ultra Boost Uncaged Canada .TV Series: Duck Dynasty. NMD 2020 Cananda . The time off didnt slow them down. Tyler Zeller scored a season-high 18 points and grabbed a career-best 15 rebounds, Kyrie Irving added 14 points and the Cavaliers pushed their winning streak to five games Tuesday night with a 114-85 victory over the skidding Philadelphia 76ers. http://www.nmdshoescanada.com/y-3-cheap-canada.html.Y. -- As if the worst start in franchise history isnt bad enough, Buffalo Sabres President Ted Black braced his teams win-starved fans for potentially more tough times. NMD Canada Online . The redshirt freshman finished the regular season with nearly 3,500 passing yards, and 35 touchdowns with another three on the ground while leading the Seminoles to the top of the BCS Rankings. Stan Smith Shoes Canada Sale . The midfielder had an operation on Saturday, and is set to miss seven Premier League games, the third round of the FA Cup and the semifinals of the League Cup. ARLINGTON, Texas -- Those Martinez sluggers in the middle of the Detroit Tigers lineup keep coming up big. Most everyone already knew about Victor. Now they are getting familiar with J.D. The unrelated players homered on consecutive pitches by different Texas pitchers in the fifth, after back-to-back doubles in a three-run first, as the AL Central-leading Tigers stretched their winning streak to six games with an 8-6 victory at Texas. "Hes been swinging the bat great, and hes a guy that has a lot of power," cleanup hitter Victor said of J.D. "Hes getting a chance to play more often, and hes been doing a lot of damage." After Victor Martinez led off the fifth with his 20th homer to chase Joe Saunders (0-4), J.D. went deep on the first pitch thrown by reliever Shawn Tolleson. "Thats how he attacked me (Tuesday). He struck me out on three straight fastballs. ... He likes to leave the ball up. Im looking for a fastball there," J.D. Martinez said. "Its never a bad plan, either, looking for a fastball up." It was his ninth homer this season, the sixth during a 14-game hitting streak that is the longest active in the majors. J.D. Martinez is hitting .418 (23 for 55) with eight doubles and 17 RBIs in that span. "Vics been swinging the bat well all year, right-handed, left-handed, you take your pick," manager Brad Ausmus said. "The thing about J.D. is his power. When he gets hot, the ball is going to travel." Victor and J.D. also had consecutive doubles when Detroit went ahead to stay with three runs in the first inning. Texas lost its seventh consecutive game, the longest current losing streak in the majors. "Its definitely hard to comprehend a seven-game losing streak, but it is what it is," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "We knew why. Weve got to score some runs, and weve got to pitch better." The Rangers trailed 6-3 when left-hander Saunders left after giving up seven hits and walking five.dddddddddddd Anibal Sanchez (5-2) struck out five and allowed four runs in 5 1-3 innings. The right-hander is 5-0 in his eight starts since coming off the disabled list May 18 after missing three weeks with a cut on his right middle finger. Joe Nathan, the Texas closer the last two seasons before leaving in free agency, gave up a run in the ninth before clinching his 16th save in 21 chances. Carlos Pena homered and scored twice in his second game back with the Rangers, the team he made his major league debut for in 2001 before being traded the following winter. Detroits first five hits were for extra bases before Torii Hunters RBI single in the third made it 5-0. Rajai Davis led off the game with a triple into the right-centre gap. Ian Kinsler then walked on four pitches and Miguel Cabrera had a sacrifice fly before the consecutive Martinez doubles. Kinsler and Cabrera had consecutive doubles to start the third. Texas scored three times in the fourth, which started when Shin-Soo Choo singled before Adrian Beltres RBI double. Pena singled and came home on a single by Robinson Chirinos. Texas rookie second baseman Rougned Odor struck out for the third time in the eighth, but made it to the third base after a wild pitch and a throwing error by catcher Bryan Holaday. Odor was initially called out sliding into third base by umpire Tim Welke even as the ball rolled free, but the umpiring crew conferred and changed the call to safe without a replay. NOTES: The Rangers are a season-high 12 1-2 games behind Oakland in the AL West, their largest deficit since the end of the 2008 season. ... The Rangers are 16-21 at home, where they have lost six of their last seven. ... When Pena homered in the sixth, the ball landed in a pan of brisket set up in a seating area in the right-field corner. ' ' '