Ogletree will be sidelined until at least Dec. 27
• By Joe Lyons
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_50739786-8774-5268-9364-a068aa23d909.html
The Rams have made their decision on Alec Ogletree, placing the third-year linebacker on the injured reserve/designated to return list.
Ogletree, who led the team in tackles in 2013 and 2014, suffered a broken fibula in the teams’ 24-22 win at Arizona on Oct. 4 and has missed the last two games. Still, he leads the squad with 55 stops this season, including 46 solos.
Had Ogletree been placed on regular IR, his season would be over. With this week’s roster move, Ogletree will be sidelined the next six weeks and then have two more weeks of practice before being eligible for a possible return in the Rams’ Week 15 game, on Dec. 27 in Seattle.
“We feel like he’s got a shot, so we wanted to protect him,” Rams coach Jeff Fisher said following Tuesday’s workout at Rams Park. “We waited a few weeks, just to protect the rest of the guys in the event that somebody else went down. At this point, it’s important for us to do it from a timing standpoint.”
Fisher said the decision also will provide a boost for Ogletree.
“We would not have done it had he not been getting better,” the coach said. “It’s good for Alec, too, because it gives him hope and encouragement to come back.”
And Ogletree’s return for season-ending NFC West games at Seattle and San Francisco could provide a much-needed lift if the Rams can take care of business between now and then and force themselves into the playoff picture.
To fill Ogletree’s spot on the 53-man roster, the Rams re-signed safety Christian Bryant, who was cut over the weekend to open a roster spot for running back and special teamer Trey Watts. With Tre Mason out because of a sore ankle, the Rams needed another body at running back.
Bryant, a seventh-round draft pick in 2014, cleared waivers on Monday.
The team also promoted defensive tackle Doug Worthington from the practice squad and waived linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar.
Worthington, a 28-year-old from Ohio State, has been with the team since late last season. The 6-foot-5, 318-pound Worthington will provide depth on a defensive line with some injury concerns. Chris Long (knee) has not been practicing and seems unlikely to play Sunday when the Rams host the 49ers and fellow defensive end Robert Quinn (knee) missed some practice time last week.
“We’re a little banged up there,” Fisher said. “I don’t know how things are going to unfold toward the end of the week. ... We moved it around a little bit just because we’ve got to get through practice and we’re just a little banged up. We’ll know more later in the week.”
Dunbar, an eighth-year pro who started 36 games for the Rams from 2012 through 2014, was cut at the end of training camp and re-signed on Oct. 6. He was not on the active roster for recent games against Green Bay and Cleveland.
To fill the two open spots on the practice squad, the Rams signed linebacker/defensive end Zack Hodges and defensive end Gerald Rivers. Hodges, a 23-year-old from Harvard, was in training camp with the Indianapolis Colts this year.
Rivers, 25, was signed by the Rams as an undrafted free agent from Mississippi in 2013 and played in two games here that season, contributing one tackle. He was claimed off waivers by Jacksonville late in the 2013 and has also spent time with Miami, Denver and the New York Giants.
GURLEY NOMINATED
After rushing for 128 yards and scoring the first two touchdowns of his NFL career in Sunday’s 24-6 victory over the visiting Cleveland Browns, Rams rookie running back Todd Gurley is once again nominated for a pair of the league’s weekly honors.
For the second time this season, Gurley is nominated for the player of the week award. Others up for the weekly honor are quarterbacks Tom Brady of New England, Kirk Cousins of Washington and Ryan Tannehill of Miami plus running backs Lamar Miller of Miami and Mark Ingram of New Orleans.
Fans are allowed to vote through Thursday at 2 p.m. at
www.nfl.com/FedEx.
For the rookie of the week honors, Gurley is up against Oakland receiver Amari Cooper, Jacksonville running back T.J. Yeldon, Minnesota linebacker Eric Kendricks and New Orleans linebacker Stephone Anthony. Fans can vote through Friday at 2 p.m. at
www.nfl.com/rookies.
It’s the third rookie of the week nomination for Gurley, who won in Week 4 after rushing 19 times for 146 yards in his first NFL start, a 24-22 win at previously unbeaten Arizona.
RAM-BLINGS
After practice Tuesday, Fisher was asked about the town hall meeting downtown concerning the NFL, the Rams and possible relocation.
“Found out this afternoon it was going on, so I’m focused on San Francisco,” he said.
• Former Mizzou TE Chase Coffman was re-signed by Tuesday by the Titans. The sixth-year pro was released over the weekend. A third-round draft pick by Cincinnati in 2009, Coffman has four catches for 42 yards in one game this season.
• In practice squad moves involving former Rams made Tuesday, linebacker Korey Toomer signed with Oakland while wide receiver Devon Wylie was signed by Atlanta.
Oakland also signed defensive back Tevin McDonald, the younger brother of Rams’ safety T.J. McDonald.
