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Rams notes: Lingering calf injury has slowed rookie Wichmann
• By Joe Lyons
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_fd24af97-9cb2-5523-82b5-2528e1c9df5b.html
On Tuesday, a pair of the Rams’ key offensive weapons, wide receiver Brian Quick and rookie running back Todd Gurley, took part in their first full workout at training camp.
Quick is recovering from a serious shoulder injury while Gurley is making slow but steady progress after undergoing ACL surgery to his left knee in November.
It was a big day for the players and the organization and drew plenty of media attention.
Away from that hoopla, rookie guard Cody Wichmann, a sixth-round draft pick from Fresno State, also made his training camp debut. Wichmann, 23, went down with a calf injury in the second organized team activity in early June.
“It feels fantastic to be back out here,” the 6-foot-5, 319-pounder said. “It took a lot longer than I thought, but calves are a little bit tricky. We just had to take our time with it and I feel great now.”
Wichmann was the fourth offensive lineman drafted by the Rams in May, joining second-rounder Rob Havenstein, third-rounder Jamon Brown and fourth-rounder Andrew Donnal. Then, in the supplemental draft, the team added Isaiah Battle, using their fifth-round pick in 2016 to do so.
“It’s tough watching your teammates grind every day, but I tried to keep the most positive attitude I could,” Wichmann said. “I had a lot of support from family and friends. And I had months of mental reps that now I’m looking to carry onto the field. I feel like I have a good sense of the playbook; I do feel like I’m still a little behind in terms of football shape, but I think it’ll come back quick.
“Hopefully, I can get in a good week of practice, get a chance to play this weekend to start building my résumé in order to make this team.”
A LOOK AHEAD
The Rams will make their home debut in the preseason on Saturday, hosting the Indianapolis Colts in a 7 p.m. game at the Edward Jones Dome.
Both teams are winless in two games this preseason. The Rams lost 18-3 in Oakland on Aug. 14 and 27-14 to the Tennessee Titans Sunday in Nashville. The Colts fell 36-10 at Philadelphia at Aug. 16 and 23-11 to the visiting Chicago Bears on Saturday.
In preseason action, the Rams are 3-1 against the Colts. They won 70-19 over the Baltimore Colts in San Antonio, Texas, in 1950, 19-17 in St. Louis in 2006, and 33-10 in St. Louis in 2011. In 2012, in coach Jeff Fisher’s first game with St. Louis, Indianapolis won 38-3.
In the regular season, the Colts hold a 23-17-2 series edge and have won three of five since the Rams moved to St. Louis in 1995.
In the teams’ most recent meeting, in 2013, the visiting Rams stunned the playoff-bound Colts 38-8 as then-rookie Tavon Austin enjoyed a huge day, scoring on a 98-yard punt return and a pair of long passes from Kellen Clemens.
KICKING CANCER
Dr. Robert Swanson, an SSM Health Cancer Care radiation oncologist, booted a football off the roof and onto the practice field at Rams Park Wednesday after practice to ceremonially kick off the Kick Cancer fundraising program that features a partnership between SSM Health and the Rams’ specialists — kicker Greg Zuerlein, punter Johnny Hekker and long-snapper Jake McQuaide.
Fans can make a pledge for every point kicked by the Rams this season, with all pledges supporting the needs of cancer patients in our community. Funding support from the SSM Kick Cancer program will be used to advance the technology and treatment procedures as well as supporting patients and families facing special needs and challenges during their cancer treatment and recovery periods.
Last season, the Rams booted 24 field goals and 34 extra points for a total of 106 points. So a pledge of 25 cents per point would’ve added up to a donation of $26.50.
To make a pledge or find out more about the Kick Cancer program, visit the website: http://www.givetossmhealth.org/kick-cancer.
RAM-BLINGS
The focus of Wednesday’s full-pad workout at Rams Park was the run game.
“Of course we got in a lot of throwing in 7-on-7, but most of the team work was heavy run because we need work on both sides of the ball,” Fisher said. “Didn’t have any issues. It’s just one of those training camp days. We had a good practice.”
Missing from Wednesday’s workout were cornerback Brandon McGee, linebackers Daren Bates and Korey Toomer, defensive tackle Doug Worthington, guard Rodger Saffold, tackle Steven Baker and tight end Brad Smelley.
Saffold, McGee and Baker did some running on the side with trainers looking on. Defensive tackle Michael Brockers dressed out, but was limited to individual drills.
Barrett Jones took his turn in the rotation at center, with Demetrius Rhaney again getting reps with the first unit at left guard.
• Chase Williams, the son of Rams’ defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, was waived/injured by the Oakland Raiders on Wednesday. A linebacker from Virginia Tech, the younger Williams was signed as an undrafted free agent in June.
• By Joe Lyons
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_fd24af97-9cb2-5523-82b5-2528e1c9df5b.html
On Tuesday, a pair of the Rams’ key offensive weapons, wide receiver Brian Quick and rookie running back Todd Gurley, took part in their first full workout at training camp.
Quick is recovering from a serious shoulder injury while Gurley is making slow but steady progress after undergoing ACL surgery to his left knee in November.
It was a big day for the players and the organization and drew plenty of media attention.
Away from that hoopla, rookie guard Cody Wichmann, a sixth-round draft pick from Fresno State, also made his training camp debut. Wichmann, 23, went down with a calf injury in the second organized team activity in early June.
“It feels fantastic to be back out here,” the 6-foot-5, 319-pounder said. “It took a lot longer than I thought, but calves are a little bit tricky. We just had to take our time with it and I feel great now.”
Wichmann was the fourth offensive lineman drafted by the Rams in May, joining second-rounder Rob Havenstein, third-rounder Jamon Brown and fourth-rounder Andrew Donnal. Then, in the supplemental draft, the team added Isaiah Battle, using their fifth-round pick in 2016 to do so.
“It’s tough watching your teammates grind every day, but I tried to keep the most positive attitude I could,” Wichmann said. “I had a lot of support from family and friends. And I had months of mental reps that now I’m looking to carry onto the field. I feel like I have a good sense of the playbook; I do feel like I’m still a little behind in terms of football shape, but I think it’ll come back quick.
“Hopefully, I can get in a good week of practice, get a chance to play this weekend to start building my résumé in order to make this team.”
A LOOK AHEAD
The Rams will make their home debut in the preseason on Saturday, hosting the Indianapolis Colts in a 7 p.m. game at the Edward Jones Dome.
Both teams are winless in two games this preseason. The Rams lost 18-3 in Oakland on Aug. 14 and 27-14 to the Tennessee Titans Sunday in Nashville. The Colts fell 36-10 at Philadelphia at Aug. 16 and 23-11 to the visiting Chicago Bears on Saturday.
In preseason action, the Rams are 3-1 against the Colts. They won 70-19 over the Baltimore Colts in San Antonio, Texas, in 1950, 19-17 in St. Louis in 2006, and 33-10 in St. Louis in 2011. In 2012, in coach Jeff Fisher’s first game with St. Louis, Indianapolis won 38-3.
In the regular season, the Colts hold a 23-17-2 series edge and have won three of five since the Rams moved to St. Louis in 1995.
In the teams’ most recent meeting, in 2013, the visiting Rams stunned the playoff-bound Colts 38-8 as then-rookie Tavon Austin enjoyed a huge day, scoring on a 98-yard punt return and a pair of long passes from Kellen Clemens.
KICKING CANCER
Dr. Robert Swanson, an SSM Health Cancer Care radiation oncologist, booted a football off the roof and onto the practice field at Rams Park Wednesday after practice to ceremonially kick off the Kick Cancer fundraising program that features a partnership between SSM Health and the Rams’ specialists — kicker Greg Zuerlein, punter Johnny Hekker and long-snapper Jake McQuaide.
Fans can make a pledge for every point kicked by the Rams this season, with all pledges supporting the needs of cancer patients in our community. Funding support from the SSM Kick Cancer program will be used to advance the technology and treatment procedures as well as supporting patients and families facing special needs and challenges during their cancer treatment and recovery periods.
Last season, the Rams booted 24 field goals and 34 extra points for a total of 106 points. So a pledge of 25 cents per point would’ve added up to a donation of $26.50.
To make a pledge or find out more about the Kick Cancer program, visit the website: http://www.givetossmhealth.org/kick-cancer.
RAM-BLINGS
The focus of Wednesday’s full-pad workout at Rams Park was the run game.
“Of course we got in a lot of throwing in 7-on-7, but most of the team work was heavy run because we need work on both sides of the ball,” Fisher said. “Didn’t have any issues. It’s just one of those training camp days. We had a good practice.”
Missing from Wednesday’s workout were cornerback Brandon McGee, linebackers Daren Bates and Korey Toomer, defensive tackle Doug Worthington, guard Rodger Saffold, tackle Steven Baker and tight end Brad Smelley.
Saffold, McGee and Baker did some running on the side with trainers looking on. Defensive tackle Michael Brockers dressed out, but was limited to individual drills.
Barrett Jones took his turn in the rotation at center, with Demetrius Rhaney again getting reps with the first unit at left guard.
• Chase Williams, the son of Rams’ defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, was waived/injured by the Oakland Raiders on Wednesday. A linebacker from Virginia Tech, the younger Williams was signed as an undrafted free agent in June.
