St. Louis ? St. Louis Rams running back Lamar Gordon, who might have to fill in for Marshall Faulk on Monday night against the Bears, is feeling less and less like a rookie.

Being on the field for the Rams’ game-winning drive in last week’s 28-24 victory against the Chargers will do that. Gordon caught two passes for 18 yards and ran twice for 11 yards to help set up Marc Bulger’s game-winning 7-yard touchdown pass to Isaac Bruce with 1:14 to play.

“It made me feel pretty good, and now I’ve just got to get used to it,” Gordon said Thursday. “I’ve just got to be ready to be that man if I have to play, and help out the team.”

Gordon was coach Mike Martz’s choice to start ahead of Trung Canidate, a first-round pick in 2000, if Faulk can’t play. Faulk left in the fourth quarter of the Chargers game because of a sprained right ankle and a strained tendon in his left foot. Faulk is listed as questionable for Monday, but Martz said he could return to practice today, a day sooner than expected.

“That’s up to Marshall,” Martz said. “He was talking about maybe doing some work. He’s the only one that knows how he feels.”

Earlier in the week, Martz said Faulk would not work out until Saturday at the earliest. But on Thursday he was able to do toe-raisers and was walking without a limp.

“He’s improved dramatically,” Martz said. “I’m real encouraged.”

Gordon, like many Rams players, expects Faulk to play. “I think he will, for sure,” Gordon said.

Quarterback Marc Bulger, who has led the Rams (4-5) to four straight victories with Kurt Warner sidelined because of a broken pinkie finger, also began the year far down on the depth chart.

Reese questionable

Denver ” Denver Broncos free safety Izell Reese tested his sore groin with some light running Thursday, but isn’t sure if he’ll be ready to play Sunday against Seattle. Reese has not practiced this week, but plans to join the team Friday to see if he’ll be ready to go against the Seahawks.

Hester dies at age 57

Davenport, Iowa ” Former NFL tight end Jim Hester died Thursday after a lengthy battle with heart and lung disease. He was 57. Hester, who grew up in Davenport, was drafted in 1967 by the New Orleans Saints and played there for three years. He went to Chicago in 1970 and played for the Bears with Dick Butkus and Gale Sayers. Hester graduated from the University of North Dakota in 1967.

Cowboys’ Smith to share several prized possessions

Irving, Texas ” After every one of his NFL touchdowns, Emmitt Smith keeps the ball tucked under his arm for safekeeping. Through 13 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, Smith has amassed quite a collection of footballs and other memorabilia while becoming the NFL’s career rushing leader and scoring a record 150 touchdowns on the ground.

Now he’s ready to share some of his prized possessions, offering about 50 items in an auction for charity. The money raised will go to The Open Doors Foundation, a nonprofit organization Smith created to provide academic help for youths.

One of the items is a jersey and helmet Smith wore Oct. 27, when he broke Walter Payton’s career rushing record.