St. Louis Rams' starting cornerback E.J. Gaines is out for the season after suffering a Lisfranc foot injury during the first week of the team's training camp that reportedly required surgery.

NBC Sports' Pro Football Talk reported that Gaines broke his midfoot bone "when a teammate stepped" onto it during their August 2 training camp session.

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The 23-year-old sophomore cornerback was one of the top rookies in the league last season, even making the Pro Football Writers of America all-rookie team.

Meanwhile, ESPN indicated that Gaines' setback would create opportunities for the rest of the deep Ram's cornerback lineup, particularly for second-stringer Trumaine Johnson, who is expected to fill-in Gaines left corner spot opposite Janoris Jenkins on the other side.

With Gaines no longer available for the whole of the upcoming season, reports were also saying that undrafted rookie Imoan Clairborne from Northwestern State could be included in the Ram's final roster as a result.

Clairborne had shown some promise during this summer's training camp and head coach Jeff Fisher would reportedly like to see how he would perform in real games.

"He's got ball skills and he's been productive," Fisher told reporters after their preseason game against the Oakland Raiders on Friday. "He's got a good defensive mind and he understands things."

Although he showed toughness that Fisher liked after picking off Raiders quarterback Derek Carr during the game, Clairborne's spot in the final roster is not a guarantee as has to compete with the team's other resident cornerbacks Lamarcus Joyner, Marcus Roberson, and Brandon McGee.

Still, team officials see Gaines' full season exclusion a "tough break" that St. Louis would have to overcome until he comes back.

The NFL's official website said that "losing Gaines is a rugged setback" for the Rams, who are one of three teams proposing a transfer to the city of Los Angeles next season.

Gaines was a sixth-round steal by the Rams during the 2014 NFL Draft, being selected 188^th overall. He was the one rookie cornerback that started his first 15 games last season as well.

Fisher would have wanted him on the starting defensive unit on September 13 in their season opener against the Seattle Seahawks at home. But he may have to wait a year after, whether they are still in St. Louis or Los Angeles.

TagsNFL, NFL 2015, NFL news, NFL News 2015, NFL rumors, NFL Rumors 2015, E.J. Gaines, st. louis rams