Rams 9/13 report: Corner search

* The Rams don't practice today. Nothing new to report on the injury front. Naturally since a QB is injured, the Rams-Giants game Monday night is off the board for pointspread purposes.

* Quick ex-Rams report:
- Atlanta re-signed Brett Romberg.
- Seattle signed Anthony Hargrove.
- The Jets waived Mardy Gilyard.

* Since the Rams currently consider Danny Amendola week-to-week, it's hard to guess how they will handle his absence. I could see trying Greg Salas in his slot receiver role. I don't know if Jerious Norwood returns punts. I know, I just mentioned Gilyard's available, but he didn't impress as a punt returner on the occasions when he did field the kick cleanly this preseason. I'd rather try Salas in the slot and have Danario Alexander active than try to plug Gilyard in.

* The more critical roster situation is at corner, where Ron Bartell will be IR'ed soon for a season-ending and possibly career-ending neck injury, and where Bradley Fletcher is going to be playing with a sprained toe. Al Harris is 36 and has knees only slightly better than Alexander's. Justin King's play is really up and down and he's been injured much of his brief career. So I've been mining the waiver wire and the rumor mill this morning for some players the Rams could look at (or have already):

- C.J. Wilson: 6'1, 195, 26-yo CB cut by Carolina, where he's primarily played special teams since 2007. Rams worked him out last week. Solid tackler with good cover skills; can also play safety. Doesn't have great speed, is most comfortable in zone. Anticipates well and is a big-play threat. Young, with the size the Rams like: I'll call Wilson the clubhouse favorite to join the team.

- Roderick Hood: 5'11, 198, 29-yo cut by Tennessee. Missed all of last year there due to torn ACL. Was here for a physical in August, and I believe also worked out here in 2010. Nickelback from Steve Spagnuolo's Philadelphia years. Sticks to receivers well, has good hands and can turn mistakes into pick-sixes. Had 3 picks in just 6 games with Titans in 2009 as midseason replacement for Nick Harper. Titans fans howled when Harper got his starting job back. Subpar tackler and jammer, will bite on fakes and give up big plays. Rams keep flirting with signing Hood, but I wonder if they trust his knees. Seems like this team has enough issues like that. But Hood's high on the list.

- Tim Atchison: 6'1, 200, 23-yo free agent cut by the Rams in the final roster cutdown. I thought he was going to make the main roster. Atchison's great in the short area of the field. In preseason, he broke up slant passes, stuffed quick screens and showed he could defend the end zone fade pass. He saved the Tennessee game at the end with great closing speed from safety. He played corner and safety this season; perhaps the Rams believe he's more of a safety and won't look to him now. He also blew several deep coverages. I still think he's a serviceable option.

- Josh Gordy: 5'11, 195, 24, currently on Rams practice squad, formerly on Packers' PS. Good quickness, footwork, anticipation, always around ball, doesn't bite on fakes, another sure-handed big-play threat. Could easily get the call. Packers know how to develop DBs.

- Jonathan Nelson: 5'11, 182, 23, Rams' third pick in the seventh round, now on practice squad. From what I saw this summer, Nelson made the most impact on special teams. Gordy seems much more likely to get the call.

- Nathan Vasher: 5'11, 185, 29. Came into Lions camp as their starting nickelback but got beat out for the job. Average-at-best nickel at this point of his career. 5 starts last year, 1 INT. Eh, the Rams could do worse.

- Jonathan Wade: 5'11, 200, 27-yo former Rams third-round pick. Cut in Detroit at the beginning of last year after being, as Rotoworld described him, "one of the most burnable cornerbacks in football." Signed with Cincinnati later in 2010 and became their starter right off the street, and held his own. It was considered a surprise that Cincinnati released him this preseason. Not a great option, and I doubt Spagnuolo would go there having cut Wade before.

- Quincy Butler: 6'1, 190, 27, has played here for a couple of tours. Shows big-play ability at times but has been inconsistent and mistake-prone, especially on special teams. Could have some value as a brain dump since he's spent a lot of time in camp with the Saints. Don't rule him out, but don't expect him, either.

(Cue Vince McMahon's entrance music)

- Will Allen: 5'10, 195, 33-yo recently worked out with the Patriots. Miami released him last week. A possibility because I'm pretty sure Spagnuolo has coached him. Has played only 6 games since 2008, though, and has been IR'ed twice due to knee injuries. The Rams already have Al Harris.

- Lito Sheppard: 5'10, 194, 30-yo just cut by the Raiders. His name has come up a lot in recent years in Rams Nation, and Spagnuolo coached him at Philadelphia. So it should be instrumental that the Rams never look to Sheppard when they have a secondary problem. Spagnuolo would rather go with Hood, even with the injuries. I doubt he's got the size Spags prefers. Sheppard's had a diva reputation, and no longer backs it up with his play. ESPN's Vikings blogger gave him a D grade for last season. He gave up 5 TDs, missed a lot of tackles and has clearly lost a step. High name recognition, but no chance he becomes a Ram.

- Terrence Wheatley: 5'9, 185, 26-yo cut by the Jagwires. The Rams will have recent tape on him from preseason, and he's a former high draft pick, but he's too small, has been inconsistent and injured a lot, and it's a bad sign that he couldn't make a team with one of the league's worst secondaries.

RamView's guess: C.J. Wilson will be on the active roster Monday night, though I expect to see him only on special teams so the Rams don't have to expose King there. King will start at corner and move to the slot in nickel situations, with Al Harris playing outside. Let's hope King makes a leap forward from last week.

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