Bradley

Fletcher

We’re talking Clayton’s update with a grain of salt this early in the week. If Fletcher does end up sitting out, though, the Rams could be without both starting corners in Week 2. Mario Manningham and perhaps Domenik Hixon would be set up for success if Hakeem Nicks (knee) can’t go.

He joins fellow corners Ron Bartell and Jerome Murphy on injured reserve, leaving the Rams hopelessly thin in their secondary. Justin King, Al Harris and Roderick Hood will go forward as the team’s top three corners, and will have no hope of slowing down Aaron Rodgers this weekend. The Rams’ best corner in 2010, it’s not a guarantee Fletcher will be ready for Week 1 next season, or that he’ll return to his prior effectiveness.

“I’m ahead of schedule right now and things are going well,” Fletcher said. “I’m back out here in individual drills with the team.” The 2009 third-rounder expects to be full-go for the starting of training camp.

Fletcher has torn his right ACL twice in three NFL seasons, but he’s proven an exceptionally quick healer. “I’m coming along really well right now,” he said. “I am able to do everything and not holding out of anything. My knee is coming along really well.” Cortland Finnegan and Janoris Jenkins will be the Rams’ Week 1 starting corners, but Fletcher is squarely in the mix for nickel duties.

Fletcher is due $1.2 million in the final year of his contract and has lost the third corner job to third-round rookie Trumaine Johnson. He’s also coming off a torn ACL. It’s a steep price for a fourth corner that might be at less than 100 percent.

Rookie Trumaine Johnson is now the Rams’ No. 3 cornerback behind Cortland Finnegan and Janoris Jenkins. According to coach Jeff Fisher, Fletcher will be the No. 4 corner in “three of the other packages.” It’s surprising because Fletcher has played well this season, but he was whistled for three devastating pass interference penalties in St. Louis’ Week 8 loss to the Patriots. A free agent at season’s end, Fletcher will almost certainly be elsewhere in 2012.

ESPN’s John Clayton reported speculated earlier in the week that Fletcher wouldn’t be able to play, but his injury was never considered serious. The Rams remain shorthanded in the back end with Ronald Bartell (neck) out for the year. Justin King is next up on the depth chart, and he isn’t any good.

The injury happened in a one-on-one drill with Fletcher covering Mike Sims-Walker. St. Louis has now lost each of its top three corners for the season: Fletcher, Ron Bartell, and Jerome Murphy. Fletcher’s ACL tear is his second in three years. In terms of coverage, Fletcher was the Rams’ best cornerback in 2010 and the early part of 2011. Oft-burned Justin King will stay in the starting lineup, with washed-up Al Harris and street free agent signee Rod Hood competing for the other job. This will remain a pass defense to target relentlessly for fantasy matchup purposes.

Jeff Fisher’s coaching staff got fed up with Fletcher’s persistent penalties in 2012 and will move forward with Trumaine Johnson at nickel back behind Janoris Jenkins and Cortland Finnegan. Fletcher, 26, is an effective press-man corner when healthy and on his game. He could be a bargain signing in free agency.

The Eagles view Fletcher as a pure outside corner, meaning there’s a good chance he’ll be in the starting lineup come Week 1. Penalties and consistency are parts of Fletcher’s game that could use some cleaning up, but he could end up a shrewd signing for Chip Kelly and company.