It's a new Steven Jackson these days when it comes to answering questions from the media. Not a wallflower, but certainly not so outspoken. So when asked if his back was sore from carrying the Rams offense all season, he smiled broadly but didn't really bite.

"It just comes with the duty of playing running back," Jackson said. "You get beat up a little bit. We're just hoping that it allows me to play. I'm expecting to play Sunday. If that answers any questions — I'm expecting to play."

Jackson made those remarks Wednesday. But on Thursday, for the second day in a row, the closest Jackson got to the practice field at Rams Park was the exercise bike stationed near the sidelines.

Jackson does not remember a particular play Sunday against Arizona when he injured his back. So was it the overall wear and tear of the day?

"Wear and tear of the year," Jackson replied.

He has a league-high 250 touches through 10 games, on 215 carries and 35 receptions. That's a pace for 400 touches over a 16-game schedule. Coach Steve Spagnuolo seems to be a stickler on if you're going to play Sunday you've got to practice during the week. And now, Jackson has missed two of the three big practice days of the week. But if there's one player for which Spagnuolo might make an exception, it's Jackson.

"Yeah, Steven's a warrior," Spagnuolo said. "Now, he's not there yet, and there's still a little bit of spasm there. We don't want to take any chances, so he hasn't practiced. I guess it could go either way, but I guess I'm thinking positive because of who he is and the way he's been."

Jackson's backups, Kenneth Darby and Samkon Gado, have combined for only 23 carries for 83 yards, and five catches for 28 yards, all season.

Although he didn't know the specifics, Spagnuolo said the Rams training and medical staff altered their treatment on Jackson's back Thursday and he responded favorably. "He felt much better (Thursday) morning, but again not good enough that we wanted to put him out there,'' in practice, Spagnuolo said.

RAM-BLINGS

The prognosis was even cloudier for right offensive tackle Jason Smith. After suffering a concussion Sunday, Smith has yet to pass his neurological exam. He won't be allowed to practice — much less play in a game — until he does. ... Fullback Mike Karney (neck) sat out again Thursday. Richie Incognito (foot) is yet to practice and seems certain to miss his fourth consecutive game. ... The official announcement will come today that Sunday's game with the Seahawks will be blacked out and not shown on local television. About 8,000 tickets were unsold at the start of the week.