Rams Make 10 Roster Cuts; 13 More To Go

Scott Linehan and his coaching staff began the laborious job of cutting the team's roster to 53 players by releasing 10 players today. The roster now stands at 66, so 13 more must be off the roster by 3 p.m. tomorrow. The Rams also lifted the roster exemption from running back Steven Jackson.

Placed on waivers were wide receivers Marques Hagans and Matt Caddell, safety Jerome Carter, tight end Nick Cleaver, cornerbacks Tanard Davis and Cortney Grixby, center Donovan Raiola, linebacker Marcus Riley and nose tackles Henry Smith and Willie Williams.

Two of the 10 were draft picks: Carter was a fourth-round choice in 2005 while Hagans arrived in the fifth round in 2006.

"We are now done the preseason mode and ready to begin preparing for Philadelphia," Linehan said. "We made progress as a team and gotten better from when we started (camp) to when we finished. I am very happy where we are now. We'll see what it means in terms of wins. That's obviously how we will be judged."

After cutting to 53 tomorrow, the Rams will watch the league's wire to see if anyone from other teams interests them. Players have the weekend off, and will begin practicing Monday in preparation for Philadelphia.


SIMPLY NOTING

*An MRI of rookie wide receiver Donnie Avery's knee showed only a sprain. Avery suffered the injury Thursday night against Kansas City. "We'll see where he's at Monday," Linehan said. Avery had a similar injury just before his senior season at Houston began and he didn't miss any time.

*Nick Leckey is expected to be the starting center against Philadelphia. Brett Romberg still has pain in his right hand and Linehan said, "I don't know where Brett will be in terms of practicing next week." It's possible the only backup center available against the Eagles might be right guard Richie Incognito. The only other center currently on the roster is Dustin Fry, and he worked mostly as a guard this summer. Keeping Fry would also force the Rams to retain an extra offensive lineman, which they are not expected to do.

*Rookie defensive end Chris Long did not play against the Chiefs, and Linehan said, "He wasn't going to play much anyway, so I didn't think six or eight plays would have made much of a difference. He has been improving steadily. There are good days and not so good days as there are for most rookies until they get it figured out. But the one thing I know about Chris Long is that he will do the extra things to make himself great. He has the right mentality. He won't let himself fail."