45 minutes ago • By Jim Thomas jthomas@post-dispatch.com 314-340-8197
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Record crowd watches Rams training camp
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A week into camp usually is when most teams start losing players to injury. But following a day off Wednesday, the Rams returned to practice Thursday night with some familiar faces taking part in 11-on-11 work.
Most notably veterans Jake Long, William Hayes, and Scott Wells, plus third-year cornerback Trumaine Johnson.
Left tackle Long is recovering from offseason knee surgery; defensive end Hayes is returning from hip, collarbone, and ankle surgeries during the offseason. To this point, they had been taking part in individual drills and working on the side. Taking part in 11-on-11 — or “team” — work is the last major hurdle to being game ready.
“It’s great to have William and Jake back,” coach Jeff Fisher said following Thursday practice at Rams Park. “They’ve been working hard. We’ve just got to ease ’em back into it. There were no issues today, so we’ll get some reps (Friday). But it was good to get ‘em back in. They’re both excited.”
Wells had missed the end of OTAs with an illness, and has been working himself back into the practice routine in the early going of camp. Johnson has missed just a few days of camp with what appeared to be a soft-tissue leg injury.
If it were the regular season, the workload Thursday for Long and Wells would have been termed limited. But their return meant that the first-team offensive line worked together for the first time in training camp, albeit for just a few snaps: Long at left tackle, Greg Robinson at left guard, Wells at center, Rodger Saffold at right guard, and Joe Barksdale at right tackle.
“It’s good to have Jake’s presence in the offensive huddle again,” Fisher said. “So that’s encouraging.”
“It felt good just to be out there (as a unit),” Long said, after the team’s third consecutive practice in shoulder pads. “Because we’ve been doing it in walk-throughs. But going out there and doing ‘live’ reps against our defense, it felt good to all be together.”
Long, who suffered ACL and MCL injuries in his right knee in last year’s Dec. 22 game against Tampa Bay, said he’s right on schedule in his return.
“All along, we had this schedule planned out since the surgery, and we’ve been following it,” Long said. “As long as we don’t have any setbacks, we’re gonna keep progressing and getting better.”
That schedule calls for Long to make his preseason debut in Game 2 or 3 of exhibition play.
“Yeah, I definitely want to get some reps in the preseason,” Long said.
Long said the knee felt great Thursday; his workload will gradually increase in the coming days and weeks.
At age 24, Johnson is one of the “veterans” of what has to be one of the NFL’s youngest secondaries. His injury, which appeared to be a tweaked hamstring, never looked serious, but every rep counts for the third-year pro. The Rams are counting on him and fellow starter Janoris Jenkins for improved play at the cornerback position.
“It felt good to finally get out on the field,” Johnson said. “It was a lot of mental reps for the last three or four days. ... So it was good to be back out there with my teammates.”
Several other players were back on the field in varying degrees Thursday after missing time earlier in camp, a group that included: second-year offensive guard Brandon Washington, and undrafted rookies Kadeem Jones (fullback), Johnny Millard (linebacker), and Ethan Westbrooks (defensive end).
Westbrooks, who suffered a hamstring injury training on his own between the end of OTAs and the start of training camp, took part in 1-one-1 pass rush drills Thursday. When all is said and done, he could provide competition for University of Missouri defensive end Michael Sam for a spot on the 53-man roster.
Those not practicing Thursday were: defensive end Sammy Brown, cornerbacks Christian Bryant and Jarrid Bryant, center/guard Barrett Jones, defensive back Lamarcus Joyner, and running back Isaiah Pead.
“We have a couple guys that are just a day or two away,” Fisher said. “But we’re in good shape.”
Ultra-durable linebacker James Laurinaitis left practice early after getting his foot stepped on. It didn’t appear serious.
“I don’t know anything about it right now,” Fisher said. “He got stepped on. We’ll have to check it out.”
Follow Jim Thomas on twitter @jthom1
0
Record crowd watches Rams training camp
Welcome to Canton: Time is at hand for Aeneas Williams
Former Rams, Big Red star enters Pro Fooball Hall of Fame on Saturday. Read more
Rams will hear from NFL about sportsmanship
Officials are touring the league's camps to stress proper conduct in the workplace; Fisher will further emphasize their points. Read more
RELATED LINKS
A week into camp usually is when most teams start losing players to injury. But following a day off Wednesday, the Rams returned to practice Thursday night with some familiar faces taking part in 11-on-11 work.
Most notably veterans Jake Long, William Hayes, and Scott Wells, plus third-year cornerback Trumaine Johnson.
Left tackle Long is recovering from offseason knee surgery; defensive end Hayes is returning from hip, collarbone, and ankle surgeries during the offseason. To this point, they had been taking part in individual drills and working on the side. Taking part in 11-on-11 — or “team” — work is the last major hurdle to being game ready.
“It’s great to have William and Jake back,” coach Jeff Fisher said following Thursday practice at Rams Park. “They’ve been working hard. We’ve just got to ease ’em back into it. There were no issues today, so we’ll get some reps (Friday). But it was good to get ‘em back in. They’re both excited.”
Wells had missed the end of OTAs with an illness, and has been working himself back into the practice routine in the early going of camp. Johnson has missed just a few days of camp with what appeared to be a soft-tissue leg injury.
If it were the regular season, the workload Thursday for Long and Wells would have been termed limited. But their return meant that the first-team offensive line worked together for the first time in training camp, albeit for just a few snaps: Long at left tackle, Greg Robinson at left guard, Wells at center, Rodger Saffold at right guard, and Joe Barksdale at right tackle.
“It’s good to have Jake’s presence in the offensive huddle again,” Fisher said. “So that’s encouraging.”
“It felt good just to be out there (as a unit),” Long said, after the team’s third consecutive practice in shoulder pads. “Because we’ve been doing it in walk-throughs. But going out there and doing ‘live’ reps against our defense, it felt good to all be together.”
Long, who suffered ACL and MCL injuries in his right knee in last year’s Dec. 22 game against Tampa Bay, said he’s right on schedule in his return.
“All along, we had this schedule planned out since the surgery, and we’ve been following it,” Long said. “As long as we don’t have any setbacks, we’re gonna keep progressing and getting better.”
That schedule calls for Long to make his preseason debut in Game 2 or 3 of exhibition play.
“Yeah, I definitely want to get some reps in the preseason,” Long said.
Long said the knee felt great Thursday; his workload will gradually increase in the coming days and weeks.
At age 24, Johnson is one of the “veterans” of what has to be one of the NFL’s youngest secondaries. His injury, which appeared to be a tweaked hamstring, never looked serious, but every rep counts for the third-year pro. The Rams are counting on him and fellow starter Janoris Jenkins for improved play at the cornerback position.
“It felt good to finally get out on the field,” Johnson said. “It was a lot of mental reps for the last three or four days. ... So it was good to be back out there with my teammates.”
Several other players were back on the field in varying degrees Thursday after missing time earlier in camp, a group that included: second-year offensive guard Brandon Washington, and undrafted rookies Kadeem Jones (fullback), Johnny Millard (linebacker), and Ethan Westbrooks (defensive end).
Westbrooks, who suffered a hamstring injury training on his own between the end of OTAs and the start of training camp, took part in 1-one-1 pass rush drills Thursday. When all is said and done, he could provide competition for University of Missouri defensive end Michael Sam for a spot on the 53-man roster.
Those not practicing Thursday were: defensive end Sammy Brown, cornerbacks Christian Bryant and Jarrid Bryant, center/guard Barrett Jones, defensive back Lamarcus Joyner, and running back Isaiah Pead.
“We have a couple guys that are just a day or two away,” Fisher said. “But we’re in good shape.”
Ultra-durable linebacker James Laurinaitis left practice early after getting his foot stepped on. It didn’t appear serious.
“I don’t know anything about it right now,” Fisher said. “He got stepped on. We’ll have to check it out.”
Follow Jim Thomas on twitter @jthom1
