Rams release four

NFL.com reports the Rams released four players yesterday:

WR Dominique Curry
CB Brian Jackson
CB Marquis Johnson
OT Thomas Welch

Couple of familiar names, but none of the cuts come as a big surprise.

Curry was a plus contributor on special teams, but there are a lot of candidates ahead of him on the depth chart at wide receiver and the Rams simply don't have the luxury to use a roster spot on someone who's strictly a gunner. Didn't have the luxury last year, actually. I'd look for him to at least get a shot in Kansas City with former Rams special teams coach Tom McMahon.

Johnson and Jackson were among the million casualties in the Ram secondary last year, and it's been completely re-built since. I'm a little surprised that Johnson, the former 7th-round pick, didn't at least get a training camp invite, because he's shown he can play. He has had terrible injury luck, though, which probably made the Rams' decision for them. With Cortland Finnegan, Janoris Jenkins, Bradley Fletcher, Trumaine Johnson, Jerome Murphy and Josh Gordy already aboard, not a lot of room on the depth chart at corner.

Welch was on the practice squad for a while last year and I believe got some playing time toward the end of the season. Again, a little surprise he wasn't at least brought to training camp, given the effect Jason Smith's lack of durability figures to have on the depth chart. And it's not like he couldn't compete with Kevin Hughes, who, fortunately, has Harvey Dahl, Quinn Ojinnaka and probably Rokevious Watkins and Ryan McKee ahead of him on the depth chart.

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Photo: Fox Sports Midwest