Miller May Not Return This Season

The St. Louis Rams haven’t officially ruled Chris Miller out for this weekend’s game, but it’s highly unlikely he’ll play again this season because he hasn’t undergone any testing yet.

Miller suffered his fifth concussion in 15 months a week ago in a 23-20 victory over the New York Jets. He didn’t meet with a neurosurgeon until late last week, and coach Rich Brooks said Monday it was decided to delay tests on his reflexes, memory and other faculties to this week.

Brooks said he didn’t know whether Miller would undergo another brain scan.

“He told me (Sunday) his headaches are gone, but he still doesn’t feel exactly right,” Brooks said. “I would say the timetable on Chris Miller is it isn’t likely we’ll see him the rest of this year unless something very positive happens on the medical front.

“Until I get that word my assumption is I’m operating without Chris Miller.”

Miller watched Sunday’s 45-27 loss to Buffalo from the sideline in street clothes, but wouldn’t talk to reporters afterward. Brooks said Miller “probably” was out for this weekend’s game against Washington.

Mark Rypien got his first start of the year against the Bills and completed 31 of a career-high 55 passes for 372 yards and two touchdowns.

“Obviously, there’s some throws I’d have loved to have back,” Rypien said. “I could have made some plays, but you feel good about getting out there and competing.”

“He played a pretty good game,” Brooks said. “Would I expect him to play better? I guess I’d like for him to play better. If he played as good I’d be really happy.”

Rookie Dave Barr, who saw his first NFL action in the final minute Sunday, is now the backup.

Bledsoe searching for answers

Another game, another poor performance for Drew Bledsoe, the top pick in the 1993 draft whose career has been as wobbly as some of his passes.

Last season, he became the youngest player in NFL history to play in the Pro Bowl. This season, the former Washington State star is the lowest-rated quarterback in the AFC. On Sunday, the 6-foot-5 Bledsoe had six passes deflected at the line of scrimmage and completed only 11 of 36 throws in his worst game of the year.

The Patriots won 31-28 but it was against the hapless Jets. Not counting the two wins against New York or a loss to Atlanta in which he was sidelined, New England is 4-7 with Bledsoe at quarterback.

“I’m concerned, sure,” coach Bill Parcells said. “I really don’t know the answer. I know we’ve got a lot of work to do with him.”

Bledsoe also was at a loss to explain his decline.

“I don’t know what the answer to it is but I’m not doing anything different in my throwing motion,” he said.

Andersen’s no Saint

Talk about kicking a guy when he’s down.

Morten Andersen, whose release in preseason was probably the New Orleans Saints’ biggest personnel mistake, may have kicked his beleaguered ex-coach, Jim Mora, out of a job.

He definitely kicked Mora and the Saints out of playoff contention Sunday with four field goals for the Atlanta Falcons, an NFC West division rival. He also set an single-game record with three from beyond 50 yards as the Falcons won 19-14.

After being cut by Mora before training camp in a salary cap move, Andersen has come back to haunt the Saints in two games this year - kicking 8 of 8 field goals, including the overtime kick for the Falcon’s 27-24 victory in their first meeting.

Asked if he had any message for Mora after this last game, Andersen couldn’t help grinning.

“I guess just, have a nice Christmas,” Andersen said.

End zone

An MRI exam on Dallas quarterback Troy Aikman’s swollen right knee revealed no structural damage. Aikman is expected to play Sunday against the New York Giants… . Denver rookie running back Terrell Davis may be out for the season with a tear in his right hamstring tendon. Davis, who has 1,117 yards rushing, will miss Sunday’s game at Kansas City and is questionable for the season finale at Oakland… . Oakland quarterback Jeff Hostetler, sidelined 3 games with an injured shoulder, is expected to return Sunday against Seattle… . Faced with litigation from taxpayers, the San Diego city council delayed approval of financing for a $66.6 million expansion of Jack Murphy Stadium.