ST LOUIS RAMS (stlrams.com) -  St. Louis Rams defensive end Victor Adeyanju will be sidelined two-to-four weeks after breaking his right middle finger in practice Sunday.

Adeyanju, a fourth-round pick in 2006 who started seven games last year, was sent back to St. Louis on Monday to have pins inserted. Coach Scott Linehan said it could be as short as two weeks and as long as a month before Adeyanju is cleared to return.

He is competing for a backup spot at end after the Rams took Chris Long with the second pick of the draft. Adeyanju started nine games his rookie season after the Rams released Anthony Hargrove in a disciplinary move, and is perhaps the team's best run defender.

"Once he gets that wound healed he'll be able to get some work done with a club on that hand," Linehan said. "It's a complete fluke deal."