Dahl returns, Mauga out for season

For the first time in a more than a month, ex-Greenwave and Wolf Pack offensive lineman Harvey Dahl was back on the football field after suffering a knee injury against Seattle on Oct. 28. In the Rams’ close loss to the league-leading Seahawks, Dahl sprained his MCL during the second half.

The team wasn’t sure at the time how long to expect Dahl off the field, ranging from a couple weeks to possibly the end of the season. But for the 31-year-old, six-year veteran, his presence back on the football field comes with St. Louis eying a wild-card playoff berth. Dahl missed the end of last season with a biceps injury.

Dahl participated in practice without limitations on Wednesday and should be back in the lineup this weekend.

Although the chances are slim after losing at San Francisco (8-4) on Sunday, St. Louis (5-7) sits three games out of the second and final position wildcard spot with four games left. The Rams visit Arizona (7-5) on Sunday before hosting New Orleans (Dec. 15) and Tampa Bay (Dec. 22). St. Louis travels to Seattle on Dec. 29 to end the season.

On the East Coast, fellow Fallon and Nevada alum Josh Mauga appears to be done for the season. Mauga was placed on injured reserve with the Jets in early September with a back injury, and he said at the time that he hoped to be back on the field by the end of October.

But the four-year letter winner at Nevada confirmed this month that it was best for him to forgo the season to nurse his back to full strength.

“I’m in no condition to play football, which was the main reason I’m not playing,” said Mauga, who is still going through treatment and rehab. “I couldn’t run without having pain in my back. The best way for me to heal is time and rest. Backs are very tricky and sometimes they heal up quick and other times, they take awhile.”

Mauga’s season ended prematurely last year after playing in the first five games. The 2005 Fallon grad has played only one full season (2011) in his four-year career.