St. Louis Rams safety T.J. McDonald won’t need surgery for fractured leg

Sep 26, 2013; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Rams strong safety T.J. McDonald (25) is carted off of the field with a leg injury during the second half against the San Francisco 49ers at the Edward Jones Dome. The 49ers defeated the Rams 35-11. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 26, 2013; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Rams strong safety T.J. McDonald (25) is carted off of the field with a leg injury during the second half against the San Francisco 49ers at the Edward Jones Dome. The 49ers defeated the Rams 35-11. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 26, 2013; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Rams strong safety T.J. McDonald (25) is carted off of the field with a leg injury during the second half against the San Francisco 49ers at the Edward Jones Dome. The 49ers defeated the Rams 35-11. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 26, 2013; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Rams strong safety T.J. McDonald (25) is carted off of the field with a leg injury during the second half against the San Francisco 49ers at the Edward Jones Dome. The 49ers defeated the Rams 35-11. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports /

The St. Louis Rams were dominated last night at the hands of the San Francisco 49ers, but their most serious loss came late in the game when starting rookie safety T.J. McDonald was carted off the field after suffering an injury to his right leg.

As it turned out, he fractured his leg, but according to Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, he won’t need surgery, and will be placed on injured reserve/designated for return, which will allow him to return in eight weeks.

Practice squad safety Cody Davis will get called-up to fill his roster spot.

McDonald, a rookie third-round draft pick out of USC, appeared to run into defensive end Gerald Rivers at the end of a 3-yard run by the 49ers’ Frank Gore in the third quarter.

Rams cornerback Cortland Finnegan sustained a thigh injury in the second quarter and his return was doubtful. Finnegan was hurt covering Anquan Boldin on a 20-yard touchdown pass from Colin Kaepernick 6:20 before halftime.