LOS ANGELES_Michael Brockers, William Hayes and Robert Quinn stood on the sideline last week feeling helpless.
The linemen comprise three-fourths of the Rams' starting defensive front. But injuries prevented them from aiding teammates trying to stop Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy.
The Rams are accustomed to missing a player or two from a position group because of injuries.
Not three.
"The past couple years, it's been one guy out for a little bit of time," Brockers said Friday, adding, "It wasn't a good feeling. But deep in the back of your mind you know it was a good decision."
The trio's status for Sunday's game at Detroit is uncertain. Brockers, Hayes and Quinn were limited Friday and are listed as questionable. Their availability won't be determined until after warm-ups at Ford Field, the first stop on a 10-day trip that concludes with an Oct. 23 game against the New York Giants outside London.
Last month, Brockers signed a three-year extension worth about $33 million, according to spotrac.com. He is nursing a hip injury suffered during practice. The 6-foot-5, 326-pound tackle tested his condition on the field before warmups last Sunday but was not able to play.
He is "really hopeful" that he will be available against the Lions, he said.
"I feel good," he said. "And as long as I can protect myself out there I think I'll be able to go."
Hayes suffered an ankle injury at Tampa Bay on Sept. 25 and sat out against Arizona and Buffalo.
He said his goal was to return sometime between Sunday and the bye week that follows the team's return from London.
"I doubt if I go Sunday," he said, "but next Sunday looks really good."
Hayes sustained the injury during the first half of the Rams' 37-32 victory over the Buccaneers. He went to the locker room for treatment but returned after Eugene Sims was ejected.
Hayes said coming back into the game did not exacerbate the injury.
"I didn't do anything to aggravate it," he said. "The damage had kind of already been done.
"I felt I could go out and battle with my guys. That's what I get paid to do."
Quinn is nursing a shoulder injury suffered against Arizona.
Coach Jeff Fisher said Brockers, Hayes and Quinn still had time to heal before the game against the Lions.
"They've got, what, 48 hours, 46 hours or something like that, from now," Fisher said after practice. "Each passing day, they're getting better. Obviously we need them, especially against this group."
The Lions feature quarterback Matthew Stafford and receiver Marvin Jones, a formidable combination that the Rams hope to slow down by creating pressure with their pass rush.
Stafford is completing 68 percent of his passes, 10 for touchdowns, with four interceptions.
"He's been making throws that not very many quarterbacks can make, with his mobility, his arm strength," Rams defensive coordinator Gregg Williams said. "But he understands, you can see it, that he's taking the next step as a quarterback being the pseudo-offensive coordinator, too."
Last week, the Rams struggled at times to contain Buffalo quarterback Tyrod Taylor and could not slow McCoy during the first half of a 30-19 defeat at the Coliseum.
Ends Ethan Westbrooks and Eugene Sims played in place of Hayes and Quinn, and tackles Cam Thomas and Dominique Easley rotated in place of Brockers.
"They played pretty solid," Williams said of the line. "It was a few guys behind the ball, behind the defensive line," that must improve.
Against the Lions, the Rams' secondary will be without Trumaine Johnson. The franchise cornerback suffered an ankle injury against Buffalo and could be sidelined several weeks.
Troy Hill will start in his place opposite cornerback E.J. Gaines.
