The Rams’ offensive line has seen constantly changing parts for the last five seasons. Since 2003, when every player on the line started all 16 games and the Rams were 12-4, they have had 33 different line combinations, including the one that started the first two games of this season.

That line – left tackle Alex Barron, left guard Jacob Bell, center Jason Brown, right guard Richie Incognito and right tackle Jason Smith – became just the 23rd unit in 82 games to start two straight. Only 10 times has the team’s line started three consecutive games.

It now appears this group won’t make it for three games after both Brown and Smith suffered knee injuries in Sunday’s loss to the Redskins. Brown left for five plays before returning, while Smith did not come back after injuring his knee on the team’s only touchdown drive of the game.

Brown has vowed to practice Wednesday, and has the better chance of playing Sunday in the team’s home opener against Green Bay. Smith is expected to miss this week’s game, but he hopes to be available for the game in San Francisco the following week.

When Brown left the game Sunday, he was replaced by Mark Setterstrom, who was making his first regular-season appearance since injuring his knee in the third game of the 2007 season. Setterstrom was then sidelined for the 2008 season because of a knee injury suffered in training camp.

Adam Goldberg stepped in for Smith Sunday after being the starter there at the start of camp until Smith was named to start the regular-season opener.

Since coming to the Rams in 2006 from the Vikings, Goldberg has started 10 games at four different positions with center the only spot he hasn’t started. Last season, he started six games at those four positions, including one at right tackle.

Asked about Goldberg’s play Sunday, coach Steve Spagnuolo said, “Very solid. The one thing about Adam you’re going to know is no matter where he’s going to have to plug-in; he’s going to know what to do. That’s the kind of guy he is. That’s what you need to be a back up in the NFL. I thought he did a real nice job.”

Said Goldberg, "It's like déjà vu all over again. I'm ready to do my job, and help the offense execute and get our first W. It's nothing I'm not used to. And playing against a team like Green Bay, even though they're running a new scheme, I'm really familiar with Green Bay being in the NFC North for three years."

SIMPLY NOTING

* The first two weeks of the season have obviously shown that no one is safe on the team’s roster. The latest move was the release of wide receiver Derek Stanley and addition of wide receiver Danny Amendola off Philadelphia’s practice squad. The plan is for Amendola to return kickoffs and punts Sunday against Green Bay.

Linebacker Paris Lenon, who was signed last Wednesday, was active for Sunday’s game against Washington. Defensive tackle LaJuan Ramsey, claimed off waivers from Tennessee at the cutdown to 53 players, was on the field for eight plays against the Redskins and had two tackles. Look for him to play more and more each week.

Defensive end Victor Adeyanju has not been active for each of the first two games. It’s almost as if the new regime is hell-bent on clearing out everyone connected to past drafts.

Here are the remaining players from drafts starting in 2003:

2003: None.
2004: Steven Jackson
2005: Alex Barron, Ron Bartell, Oshiomogho Atogwe, Richie Incognito
2006: Victor Adeyanju, Mark Setterstrom
2007: Adam Carriker (injured reserve), Jonathan Wade, Clifton Ryan
2008: Chris Long, Donnie Avery, John Greco, Justin King, Keenan Burton, Chris Chamberlain, David Vobora.

Of the 73 players on the active roster, injured reserve or practice squad at the end of the 2008 season, only 32 players are currently on the 53-man roster. Two – defensive tackle Adam Carriker and safety Eric Bassey – are on injured reserve.

* Center Mark Setterstrom was in the game for five plays Sunday when Jason Brown left with a knee injury. It was the first regular-season appearance for Setterstrom since he suffered a knee injury in the third game of the 2007 season.

* As of Tuesday, only a couple hundred tickets remained for Sunday’s home opener against Green Bay. The game is virtually assured of being a sellout and will be televised locally. The game must be sold out by 12 noon on Thursday.

* Memo to fans that clamored for the Rams to draft former Mizzou tight ends Martin Rucker and Chase Coffman. Rucker was cut by Cleveland on Tuesday, while Coffman has been inactive for Cincinnati’s first two games of the season.