Donnie Avery can run. Cowboys cornerback Anthony Henry learned that firsthand Sunday, when the rookie wide receiver torched him on a 42-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter of the Rams’ 34-14 triumph. Still, cautioned quarterback Marc Bulger, let’s not go overboard.

Asked where Avery ranked among the fastest WRs he’s thrown to with the Rams, Bulger said: “He’s up there. I played with Torry (Holt) and Isaac (Bruce) when I first got here. Kevin Curtis was definitely one of the fastest guys. So, top four, I would say. I don’t want to say (Avery is) the fastest, because those guys were pretty fast.”

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Notes & quotes:

*Neither RB Steven Jackson (thigh) nor DT Adam Carriker (ankle) have practiced this week. If Jackson can get some work done Friday, his chances of playing Sunday at New England will increase. It looks as if Carriker won’t be ready in time.

*Jim Haslett has learned to shrug off injuries, even to his better players. “That’s why you have 53 guys on your team,” he said. “If you don’t think they’re good enough, then they shouldn’t be here. That’s just how it is.”

*Gary Stills has a team-high 10 special-teams tackles, but he’s hardly satisfied. “I’m not happy with my performance. I feel I need to make more plays,” he said. “We can’t have those one-a-game 30-yard returns. That’s not acceptable, as far as I’m concerned.”

*Patriots QB Tom Brady was sacked just 21 times last year. Already, Matt Cassel, who stepped in after Brady went down in the opener, has gone down 26 times. “We have to try to stop the run and force them to pass the ball,” DE Leonard Little said, “and then try to get after the quarterback a little bit.”

*Former Rams lineman Mark LeVoir probably will start at right tackle for the Pats. Nick Kaczur is nursing an ankle injury.

All for now . . .