Aug 25, 2013; Houston, TX, USA; General view of a football during a game between the halftime and the New Orleans Saints at Reliant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

The St. Louis Rams are enduring a but-whipping at the hands of the AFC West-rival San Francisco 49ers, but they may have suffered a bigger loss than that, as starting rookie safety T.J. McDonald was carted off the field with 10 minutes left in the third quarter after suffering an injury to his right leg.

As it turns out, he will likely be out for the remainder of the season after fracturing his leg:

Rams S TJ McDonald suffered a leg fracture that led to him being carted off, 2 sources say. He was a Jeff Fisher favorite, tough blow. — Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 27, 2013



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.