Rams O-lineman's infection not believed to be MRSA

Tom Pelissero | USA TODAY Sports

Backup tackle Joe Barksdale didn't travel for the St. Louis Rams' preseason game on Saturday at Denver because of an infection in a cut on one of his hands.

However, Barksdale's agent, Isaac Conner, told USA TODAY Sports on Friday night the injury is not believed to be an MRSA infection like the ones that struck the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week.

Barksdale, 25, suffered the cut in practice this past week, Conner said. He went to the doctor on Friday morning about a possible infection, received antibiotics and is expected back on the field soon.

The possibility was enough to raise concerns about some Rams players in light of widespread discussion about the situation with the Bucs, who confirmed Thursday that offensive lineman Carl Nicks and place-kicker Lawrence Tynes both are being treated for MRSA infections.

Nicks has an infected blister on the side of his left foot and Tynes an infected toe on his right foot, the team said. The entire roster was informed on Monday.

The Rams and Bucs have not played in the preseason or held any joint practices.

MRSA – short for methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus – is an infection caused by a strain of staph bacteria that has become resistant to the antibiotics commonly used to treat ordinary staph infections.

In 2003, eight cases were diagnosed in five Rams players who combined to miss 17 practice days. In-game skin-to-skin transmission was suspected as opponents developed infections after playing the Rams.

The Cleveland Browns, Washington Redskins and San Francisco 49ers have had documented MRSA infections in recent years, as well. An NFL physicians survey determined there were 33 MRSA staph infections league-wide from 2006 to '08 – 11 a season among the 32 teams.

According to the NFL's Fall 2012 Health & Safety Report, obtained by USA TODAY Sports, NFL Charities awarded a grant three years ago for a study on the prevalence, distribution and fate of MRSA infections on synthetic turf grass systems.