Were it left up to Steven Jackson, the NFL regular season would start today. The Rams running back — who is coming off back surgery in April — has pronounced himself primed for action.

"I'm really excited. I'm ready for Sept. 12," when Arizona visits for the regular-season opener, Jackson said Monday. "As the days go by, I'm getting more anxious."

Still, one more preseason contest awaits: Baltimore will face the Rams on Thursday night at the Edward Jones Dome. Jackson would prefer — make that strongly prefer — to sit that one out.

Asked if he wanted to play Thursday, Jackson quickly replied, "No." After a few seconds, he added, "But if Coach wants me to go out there, I'm fully prepared to play however long the 'ones' are going to be out there. But me personally, no, I don't want to play."

Jackson has seen brief action in the last two preseason games. He's had nine carries for 42 yards. That's enough, he said — although he conceded that getting more game time with rookie quarterback Sam Bradford would be beneficial.

"It definitely would be … in letting us to grow more chemistry," Jackson said. "I do think that's probably something Coach would want. I'm ready for it if it happens. I'm not going to go out there and gripe about it."

Coach Steve Spagnuolo hasn't decided whether to deploy Jackson vs. the Ravens.

"Not sure on that one yet," Spagnuolo said. "We'll decide that tomorrow, see how he feels. There's a chance he could go out there, but I don't know. Fifty-fifty on that one."

Although it probably won't play a role in Spagnuolo's decision, Jackson noted that the offense has been on a bit of a roll lately and that another good showing could carry over into the regular season.

The Rams, who averaged a league-low 10.7 points a game last year, totaled 55 in preseason wins at Cleveland and New England. The attack was particularly potent against the Patriots, producing 36 points and 462 total yards.

"It's definitely a confidence-booster … going into Baltimore and also going into the regular season, that we know we're capable of putting up points," Jackson said. "Now you have to go out there and make guys miss in the open field and make plays as they present themselves."

So far, Jackson likes what he's seen from a unit that could have at least three rookies in the starting lineup: Bradford, Rodger Saffold at left tackle and Michael Hoomanawanui at tight end.

"I think as an offensive group, we're making great strides," Jackson said. "For us to have so many young guys and be able to move the ball like we have these last two preseason games, it's very encouraging. We're going in the right direction."

Rams make deal

The Rams traded rookie defensive end Hall Davis, a fifth-round draft pick from Louisiana-Lafayette, to Washington for rookie fullback-tight end Dennis Morris, a sixth-rounder from Louisiana Tech. The teams also swapped conditional draft picks.

Morris practiced with the Rams on Monday, taking reps at fullback. "He's a guy that we had looked at coming out of the draft (and) a guy that we had a chance to take a look at now, so we made the move," Spagnuolo said. "It worked out pretty good."

Also, the Rams placed wide receiver Donnie Avery, who suffered a torn knee ligament Thursday at New England, on injured reserve. That leaves the roster at 76, meaning that the club has to make one more cut before the deadline of 3 p.m. today (St. Louis time). Teams must reduce to 53 players by 5 p.m. Saturday.

RAM-BLINGS

Because the Rams-Ravens didn't sell out by Monday's league-mandated deadline of 7 p.m. — 72 hours before kickoff — the game can't be televised live locally. But KTVI (Channel 2) will air it on tape delay, beginning at 10:30 p.m. Thursday. … Quarterback A.J. Feeley (thumb) did some light throwing on the side Monday.