It was expected all along that rookie Sam Bradford, the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, would become the St. Louis Rams' starting quarterback.

But it probably happened a bit sooner than coach Steve Spagnuolo had planned.

Spagnuolo said Monday that a sprained thumb would keep veteran A.J. Feeley out of Thursday's preseason game at New England. So Bradford will be in the lineup for the first time.

Feeley is wearing a brace on the thumb to keep it immobile. He said he hoped to return to practice next week.