St. Louis Rams: Danario Alexander Believes Knee Issues Are A Thing Of The Past - Missouri Sports Magazine

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St. Louis, MO (Shane Gray, Missouri Sports Magazine) â€" Danario Alexander made his first appearance in 11 on 11 training camp drills Monday, a week later than he had hoped due to a hamstring issue, something that also slowed him down earlier in the offseason.

“My hamstring kind of bothered me,” Alexander acknowledged. “Not really sure how it happened but I’m just trying to stay healthy, just trying to keep everything together, keep it going.”

It seems that staying healthy and keeping it going is always the pressing issue with Alexander, better known as DX.

Alexander, who was actually ahead of 2009 first round pick Jeremy Maclin on the depth chart at the University of Missouri in 2007 before a wrist injury derailed him, has overcome three dreaded ACL tears in his left knee.

Alexander suffered all of his ACL injuries between 2007 and 2008.

Overcoming one ACL tear, once a career ending injury, is no small feat.  Overcoming two is remarkable. Overcoming three is all but unheard of.

In spite of all the aforementioned injuries, Alexander still managed to lead the nation in receiving yards during his senior season at Mizzou.

However, Alexander hurt his knee again prior to the 2010 NFL Draft during Senior Bowl practices, leading him to his fourth left knee surgery, this time for cartilage repair. Although nothing near as severe as an ACL injury, it raised enough of a red flag, especially with the previous three ACL tears considered, to keep him from being drafted.

Of course, that eventually led him to signing with the St. Louis Rams as an undrafted free agent.

In 2010, Alexander played in eight games, hauling in a touchdown and a total of 20 receptions at 15.3 yards per catch.

In contrast, the rest of the St. Louis offense averaged just 9.9 yards per catch, less than 65 percent of Alexander’s per catch average.

In 2011, DX appeared in 10 games, hauling in two touchdowns and a total of 26 catches at an even better 16.6 yards each.

Again, in contrast, the remainder of the offense averaged 11.2 yards per reception, well under 70 percent of DX’s per catch norm.

So, for those asking why wait on Alexander, the answer can be seen above: he provides the ability to make big plays, a dimension that this offense desperately needs, at least until another deep threat develops, such as rookie Brian Quick or rookie Chris Givens, perhaps.

Jeff Fisher knows that Alexander can make plays, as he stated this Spring, via CBS Sports.

He can elevate and make those plays,” Fisher said. “It’s good to see it.”

Today, when asked if the athletic 6’5″ wideout who possesses a 40 plus inch vertical could theoretically help this offense, Fisher shared more.

“Absolutely, he’s got some talent and we just got to keep him out there,” Fisher said.  ”That’s going to be the key.”

As for Alexander, he is ready to get back to work and make plays.

“I just got to come out here everyday,” Alexander said,  ”and compete and make every play that I’m thrown to.”

Although he missed the first weekd of camp, DX does not feel that has set him back.

“No, not at all,” Alexander said confidently. “Maybe I took a step back but I feel like my abilities will be able to show and I’l be able to come out here and compete every day.”

“I’m healthy,” Alexander added, “feeling good and looking forward to the next few weeks.”

In addition, Alexander expressed optimism that he can stay healthy going forward, and, perhaps most importantly, expressed a belief that his knee issues, leading to those four aforementioned surgeries, is a thing of the past.

“I’ll be fine from here on out,” Alexander stated. “That’s my goal. That’s the plan right now.”

“Everything’s good,” Alexander continued. “I haven’t had any problems with my knee for however long so that’s kind of a thing of the past. I’m just looking forward to keeping this thing going.”

If he can keep it going and stay healthy from here on out, Alexander should stand a reasonable chance at earning one of six (and perhaps a maximum of seven) roster spots at wide receiver.

It will be interesting to see how it all plays out, but Alexander, if nothing else, has learned to fight and has allowed all that he has been through to help him become a better man, not a bitter man, something that will always help him on and off the field, as he stated earlier this Summer in this piece for Andrew Astleford of foxsportsmidwest.com.

“I feel like the adversity I have been through has made me the person I am,” Alexander said. “It made me mentally tough, dealing with certain things that a lot of guys don’t deal with. For me to be able to come back every time and basically come back stronger, it’s truly a blessing. I carry it on the field with me.”

It is hard to predict what will happen with DX, but I, for one, will be pulling for him as he continues to fight and overcome what very few athletes ever have.

PHOTO: Copyright MSM Images â€" Michael Thomas NFL Photographer