St. Louis ? Kurt Warner is not ready to start for the St. Louis Rams.

The quarterback, who has missed five games with a broken right pinkie, resumed throwing last Thursday and tossed several 40-yarders before the Rams’ game against San Diego on Sunday.

But coach Mike Martz said Monday that doctors don’t want to rush Warner back, so Marc Bulger will start again. Bulger had a team-record 36 completions for 453 yards – fourth-best in franchise history – in the 28-24 come-from-behind victory against the Chargers.

“After talking to the doctors, they were in agreement,” Martz said. “It’s just too risky to start him and not get that finger banged around. This will give him that extra week to heal.”

Warner said his finger is getting better each day, and he’s scheduled to start taking snaps again this week. Martz said Bulger would get the bulk of the practice reps, but said Warner would run some of the scout-team offense.

Bulger has led the Rams to four straight victories in Warner’s absence. The Rams were 0-4 under Warner.

Tailback Marshall Faulk probably will miss the Rams’ next game. He has a sprained left ankle and a strained tendon in his right foot.

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Dolphins – Miami receiver Cris Carter is in the hospital and won’t play this week while doctors determine what caused his kidneys to malfunction. Carter, who came out of retirement three weeks ago, is still being evaluated by team doctors and kidney specialists.

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Giants – Ron Dixon is expected to miss two games with a sprained right knee, leaving the Giants with two healthy receivers for Sunday’s game against Washington – Amani Toomer and rookie Daryl Jones. Tim Carter is out for the season after tearing his Achilles’ tendon against the Vikings on Sunday.

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Vikings – Vikings quarterback Daunte Culpepper will start this weekend against Green Bay after he was replaced by backup Todd Bouman in the third quarter during a loss to the New York Giants.

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Colts – Receiver Qadry Ismail has a sprained knee ligament and could miss Sunday’s game against Dallas. Defensive back Joseph Jefferson also sprained his ankle.

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Bengals – Defensive lineman Oliver Gibson is expected to miss the rest of the season after having surgery Monday on a torn Achilles’ tendon. Backup cornerback Bo Jennings tore a ligament in his left knee and will have surgery on Friday.

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Panthers – Carolina linebacker Lester Towns had surgery on his right foot Monday and will miss the rest of the season.

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Titans – Tennessee quarterback Steve McNair wore a walking boot again Monday to protect his swollen right big toe. McNair did not practice last week because of turf toe, but threw two touchdown passes in a 17-10 victory over Houston.

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Seahawks – Starting middle linebacker Isaiah Kacyvenski will miss four-to-six weeks with a high ankle sprain. Seahawks (3-6) lost linebacker Chad Brown for the season to a broken foot last week.

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49ers – Linebacker Jeff Ulbrich and running back Paul Smith agreed to contract extensions Monday.

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Bills – Cornerback Antoine Winfield is ready to return to Buffalo’s lineup against Kansas City on Sunday after missing three games with a left knee injury. Winfield had surgery to repair torn cartilage on Oct. 18.