Long (ankle), who is expected to undergo ankle surgery this week, has been placed on the Rams' injured reserve/designated to return list, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. Long could have ankle surgery as early as Thursday and is expected to miss 8-to-10 weeks while recovering. As a team leader, the Rams will certainly miss Long's presence, but fortunately, defensive line represents one of St. Louis' deepest units. To that point, Long's replacement in the starting lineup, William Hayes, has totaled 12 sacks over the past two seasons and embodies a capable alternative opposite Robert Quinn at defensive end.