ASSOCIATED PRESS Rams linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa put the hurt on Chiefs running back Larry Johnson, left, in a game earlier this season.

Rams' Tinoisamoa hit by the injury bug again

ST. LOUIS » The latest injury to St. Louis Rams outside linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa, a broken right hand nearly identical to a break on his left hand, is likely to land him on injured reserve.

The Rams kept Tinoisamoa in the lineup despite assorted other ailments, including a dislocated left elbow that reduced him to one-armed tackling, until he was hurt again on Monday night against the Chicago Bears.

"Now he's in a position where it's really going to be difficult," coach Scott Linehan said yesterday. "We're evaluating the likelihood of him being back this season.

"Nothing's been made official but there's a good chance by tomorrow we'll make that decision."

Tinoisamoa, a second-round pick in 2003 out of the University of Hawaii, led the Rams in tackles each of his first three seasons. He's played hurt this year since sustaining the elbow injury in the second game.

"I talked to Pisa and I said 'Maybe just get it out of your system,' " Linehan said. "It's just bad fortune. He plays all-out, and holds nothing back."

Dexter Coakley, the likely replacement, got two starts in the middle of the season while Tinoisamoa was sidelined. Linehan said Raonall Smith is another possibility.

Another linebacker, special teams leader Isaiah Kacyvenski, could return after missing two games with his second concussion of the season.

"He looks like he's himself and about ready to get back on the field, so he has a real good shot at being out there this week," Linehan said.

In other news from the Rams' camp, defensive end Leonard Little, sidelined in the fourth quarter Monday by breathing difficulties after taking a blow to the throat, underwent a CT scan yesterday that revealed no problems. Linehan said the other defensive end, rookie Victor Adeyanju, will be questionable this week in his second attempt to return from a broken forearm.