St. Louis Rams starting cornerback Ronald Bartell suffered a "significant right ankle" injury during tonight's practice, Bill Coats of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

How Bartell was injured is unknown, but the sixth-year corner from Howard was taken for x-rays.

Bartell has 234 tackles and 8 interceptions in 73 games since being chosen in the second round of the 2005 NFL Draft. The 6-1, 206-pound Bartell has started 43 games over the last three seasons, and is regarded as being the team's top cornerback.

If Bartell is seriously injured, the Rams would turn to Kevin Dockery or 2010 third-round pick Jerome Murphy to start opposite 2009 third-round pick Bradley Fletcher, who has just returned to the field after a serious knee injury ended his rookie season.