The St. Louis Rams have placed starting strong safety T.J. McDonald on injured reserve with a shoulder injury, according to Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Thomas also noted the Rams promoted practice-squad cornerback Eric Patterson to the active roster to account for McDonald’s IR placement.
Rams head coach Jeff Fisher said Wednesday he anticipated McDonald would need season-ending surgery, according to Doug Vaughn of CBS Sports 920. He is one of eight Rams who've been placed on IR this season, according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com.
Fisher indicated McDonald had been battling the injury throughout the season and that Wednesday’s decision was made in the best interest of his sustained health in the future, per Wagoner:
We’re moving forward with this, we’re being aggressive with this, so that he can come back at 100 percent.