Practice squad might not have room for Sam/PD

Practice squad might not have room for Sam
• By Jim Thomas •

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/practice-squad-might-not-have-room-for-sam/article_7787b734-98ba-5aba-a657-4d98bac89ef8.html

Defensive end Michael Sam went unclaimed by Sunday’s waiver deadline and begins the week unemployed. Once he cleared waivers, Sam became eligible to sign with the practice squad of any NFL team. But there were only a few nibbles around the league — nothing concrete at this point — in what must have been a frustrating day for Sam.

It appears highly unlikely that the Rams will add Sam to their practice squad. They already have five defensive ends on their 53-man roster and have depth needs at too many other positions to cover injuries, and they need players for the scout team to run the plays of opposing teams in practice now that the regular season is here.

Practice squad players can practice but cannot play in games. They receive $6,300 a week during the 17 weeks of the regular season (which includes the bye week), which would be $107,000 over a full season. That’s about one-fourth of the rookie minimum wage for a player on the 53-man roster ($420,000). Even so, it’s a good spot for developmental players.

Sam, the former University of Missouri All-American, was released by the Rams on Saturday. He arrived at Rams Park for a planned interview with coach Jeff Fisher around 1 p.m. Sunday. Sam entered the building via the media workroom entrance and shook hands with a couple of reporters but declined to comment. He subsequently met with Fisher, general manager Les Snead and defensive line coach Mike Waufle, and the meeting went well.

As of Sunday night, the Post-Dispatch had confirmed the names of six players the Rams will sign for their 10-man practice squad. But they still had needs to address at quarterback, wide receiver, linebacker and cornerback — which would soak up the final four spots.

None of the 22 Rams released Saturday was claimed by other teams Sunday, so a few more of them could end up on the team’s practice squad. Potential signees include QB Garrett Gilbert, WR Emory Blake, CB Greg Reid and LB Lawrence Wilson.

Meanwhile, the Rams were not awarded any players off waivers from other teams, although they may have put in a claim or two.

PRACTICE SQUAD SIGNINGS

Although the team has not released the names of its practice squad signings, league sources confirmed that the Rams brought back these five players from their preseason roster: offensive guard Brandon Washington, offensive tackle Sean Hooey, wide receiver and kick returner Justin Veltung, defensive tackle Matt Conrath and safety Matt Daniels. In addition, they will sign linebacker Kevin Reddick, who had been with New Orleans.

Washington, 26, missed the team’s first two preseason games with a hamstring injury but returned to see action against Cleveland and Miami.

The 6-foot-2, 318-pound Washington was drafted in the sixth round in 2012 by the Eagles. Washington signed with the Rams after being waived by the Eagles and spent the 2012 campaign on the Rams’ practice squad.

Last year, he was inactive for the first seven weeks of the season, spent the next six weeks on the practice squad and was inactive for two more weeks before making his NFL debut in the regular-season finale at Seattle on Dec. 29.

Hooey, a 6-foot-9, 304-pounder from the University of Cincinnati, was signed as an undrafted free agent and spent the 2013 season on the practice squad. The 24-year-old spent the year reshaping his body and, despite some preseason pass-blocking troubles, has shown promise as a prospect at right tackle.

Veltung, who stands 5 feet 11 and weighs 182 pounds, originally signed with Seattle but joined the Rams last summer after being claimed on waivers. After spending the majority of the season on the practice squad, he was activated for the final three games as a replacement for injured punt returner Tavon Austin. Veltung, 23, returned seven punts for 61 yards, an average of 8.7 per return.

Veltung saw action in all four preseason games but missed some late-camp practice time with what appeared to be a hamstring injury.

Conrath, 25, played in the first two preseason games but has been held out the past couple of weeks with a shoulder injury. The 6-7, 306-pound Conrath signed with the Rams as an undrafted rookie free agent just after the 2012 draft. He was inactive in all but one game that season, posting one tackle in the team’s tie with San Francisco that fall.

Last year, Conrath was active and saw action in eight games, finishing with 11 tackles, one sack and one pass defended.

The Rams are expected to announce their 10-man practice squad today.

RAM-BLINGS

Daryl Richardson, who began 2013 as the Rams’ starting running back, was signed to the New York Jets’ practice squad Sunday. On Saturday, the Jets waived Richardson, who ran for 475 yards and caught 24 passes for 163 yards as a rookie in 2012. Last year, Richardson was limited to just eight games with a painful toe injury. He made three starts and finished with 215 rushing yards to go along with 14 catches for 121 yards.

• After claiming fourth-year linebacker Thomas Keiser off waivers from San Diego, Arizona waived WR-KR Walter Powell, who starred at Hazelwood East High and Murray State. He was the Cards’ sixth-round draft choice in May.

• A pair of former Mizzou stars, RB Henry Josey and WR Marcus Lucas, were signed to practice squads. Josey, who was cut by Philadelphia on Saturday, hooked on with Jacksonville, while Lucas signed with Carolina. The Panthers waived Lucas on Saturday.

• Two ex-Illinois linebackers have been waived — Jonathan Brown by Arizona and Justin Staples by Cleveland.