Lotta news bits: Jenkins, Donald, Welker, Bailey, Todd Hewitt, practice squad

Rams notebook: CB Jenkins expected to play vs. Buccaneers

Joe Lyons

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/rams-notebook-cb-jenkins-expected-to-play-vs-buccaneers/article_ef55239e-a353-59b0-9dcc-5691c1bec15f.html

After sitting out last week’s win over Detroit with a concussion, it appears Rams cornerback Janoris Jenkins is ready to return to the lineup.

Jenkins, in his fourth and arguably most consistent season with the club, was a full participant in Wednesday’s practice at Rams Park and is listed probable for Thursday night’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the Edward Jones Dome.

“He’s been cleared (from the concussion protocol) and he was full practice today,’’ Rams coach Jeff Fisher said, adding, “That’ll help, yeah.’’

Also listed probable after full workouts Wednesday were running back Todd Gurley (rest), wide receiver Kenny Britt (shoulder) and tackle Rob Havenstein (calf). Reserve cornerback Eric Patterson is questionable; he hasn’t practiced since suffering an ankle injury against Detroit.

Defensive end Robert Quinn (back) and offensive lineman Andrew Donnal (knee) have been ruled out.

The Buccaneers have ruled out veteran WR Vincent Jackson (knee) and former University of Illinois DT Akeem Spence (ankle). Jackson is the team’s third-leading receiver with 33 catches for 543 yards and three touchdowns this season. Spence has started seven of the eight games he’s played in 2015.

Linebacker Bruce Carter (ankle) is doubtful after sitting out practice all week. The Bucs list G Logan Mankins (ankle), DE George Johnson (calf) and ex-Mizzou DE Jacquies Smith (hamstring) as questionable, with DT Gerald McCoy (hand) and LB Lavonte David (ankle) as probable.

David leads the team with 118 tackles and three interceptions. McCoy paces the Bucs with seven sacks and 14 quarterback pressures.

COLOR RUSH

Thursday marks the final installment of the NFL’s Color Rush Series and will feature the Rams in yellow and the Buccaneers in red.

Fisher isn’t a huge fan of the Rams’ look, saying, “I’m just glad it’s not baseball, where I have to wear the uniform as well.”

But in a quick survey of the locker room, the players are looking forward to the change.

“At first, I really wasn’t sure,” linebacker and special teams captain Daren Bates said. “But after seeing them in person with the cleats and all, I think they’re going to look pretty good out there. Nationally televised game, wearing something new, I think it’ll help add a little excitement to the game.”

Cornerback Trumaine Johnson added: “Can’t wait to get out there Thursday to let the world see us in them. It’s fun, it’s something different and I love them.”

Linebacker James Laurinaitis has been campaigning for a return to the Rams’ old blue and white uniforms and isn’t sure about this look.

“I think we wanted to look like West Virginia for Tavon (Austin),” Laurinaitis kidded.

Center Tim Barnes, the ex-Mizzou player, has also taken a wait-and-see approach.

“It’ll be interesting to see,” he said. “I think people are going to enjoy seeing something different. It’ll be fun. It’ll look a little different on the big guys, always does, but we’ll have fun with it.”

Johnson added: “The big guys, they don’t care about the swag. But for the playmakers, this is something we get excited about.”

Defensive end Williams Hayes called Color Rush a “pretty cool concept,” but isn’t overly excited.

“I won’t lie to you, I’m not big on uniforms and stuff like that,” he said. “I’m not one of those look-good, play-good guys. I just want to strap it up and go.”

DONALD HONORED

Defensive tackle Aaron Donald was named NFL Defensive Player of the Week after reaching career bests in sacks (3) and quarterback hits (6) in the team’s 21-14 win over the Detroit Lions last weekend.

It’s the second such honor for Donald, who also won after the team’s season-opening overtime win over Seattle in Week 1. The second-year pro from the University of Pittsburgh was a Pro Bowl selection as a rookie and appears headed for another such honor. With a career-high 11 sacks, he leads all NFL defensive tackles and is fifth overall among the league’s defensive linemen.

WELKER MILESTONE

With his lone catch Sunday, an 11-yarder early in the fourth quarter, Wes Welker became just the 20th receiver in NFL history with 900 career catches.

“Considering we won the game and I think it was a key catch in the game, I think it was pretty important,” the 12th-year pro said.

Asked if getting to 900 catches was something he thought about when signing with the Rams, Welker said it was not a factor.

“No, not at all. I just wanted to play; I wasn’t worried about how many catches I had in my career or anything like that,” he said. “I wanted to try and help a team win and I’m thankful the Rams gave me the opportunity.”

Welker, who spent the bulk of his career with New England and Denver, said it was good to see the Rams respond with a win after losing five in a row.

“It was good to see a lot of guys growing up and making big plays for us,” said Welker, 34. “Even when bad stuff happened, guys kept playing hard. That’s what this league is all about: making plays when it counts.”

RAM-BLINGS

Following Wednesday’s practice, Fisher said that WR Stedman Bailey is out of intensive care but still in the hospital and could be out of the hospital in a week or so.

Later Wednesday, Bailey tweeted:

“Just got a nice first jog around the hospital in physical therapy. First time doing more than walking in 3 weeks. #Godspeed.”

• Following their Dec. 27 game in Seattle, the Rams will remain on the West Coast to prepare for the season finale Jan. 3 against San Francisco. They’ll practice in Napa Valley at the facility used by the Oakland Raiders during training camp.

• The lawsuit and arbitration filed by former Rams equipment manager Todd Hewitt has been dismissed. Hewitt’s dismissal of all claims against the Rams ends more than four years of litigation.

• On Wednesday, ex-Missouri WR Marcus Lucas signed with Chicago’s practice squad and San Diego’s practice squad added former Rams’ DB Matt Daniels.