Steven Jackson ready for Rams opener

Were it left up to Steven Jackson, the NFL regular season would start today. The Rams running back — who is coming off back surgery in April — has pronounced himself primed for action. “I’m really excited. I’m ready for Sept. 12,” when Arizona visits for the regular-season opener, Jackson said Monday. “As the days go by, I’m getting more anxious.”
Still, one more preseason contest awaits: Baltimore will face the Rams on Thursday night at the Edward Jones Dome. Jackson would prefer — make that strongly prefer — to sit that one out. Asked if he wanted to play Thursday, Jackson quickly replied, “No.” After a few seconds, he added, “But if Coach wants me to go out there, I’m fully prepared to play however long the ‘ones’ are going to be out there. But me personally, no, I don’t want to play.” — St. Louis Post-Dispatch