Rams report, 7/23: Rams replace four players

StLouisRams.com

The Rams opened the rookie phase of training camp Tuesday with four new players:

* D.J. Morrell, a 6'5", 325 rookie free agent right guard out of Old Dominion cut last week by the Lions;

* R.J. Dill, a 6'6", 310 offensive tackle signed as a UDFA last year by the Jagwires. He was let go in the final cuts there last summer. He spent time on New England's practice squad and was signed by the Chiefs after the season. The NFL's brilliant system of reporting transactions never shows the Chiefs cutting him, but he's here in St. Louis now. The Rams actually had Dill in for a tryout last September, after Rodger Saffold got hurt, for a job eventually won by veteran Max Starks;

* Lawrence Wilson, a 6'1", 229 linebacker drafted by Carolina in 2011 (6th round) who has spent time on Carolina's and Chicago's practice squads. Carolina cut him in 2011 after he got arrested for marijuana possession and speeding during their bye week (your locker's next to Jo-Lonn's!);

* and Pat Schiller, a 6'2" 235 linebacker signed as a UDFA by the Falcons last year who was cut at the end of training camp.

Off the top of my head, it looks like the Rams mainly picked up camp bodies with these moves, though they've shown past interest in Dill, so he might have a shot at sticking.

Linebacker Caleb McSurdy and three UDFAs signed earlier this year were cut to make room for the four new players (at least, they're no longer on the team website):  WR/KR Diontae Spencer, LB Tavarius Wilson and OL Abasi Salimu. Naturally, I already posted profiles for two of those guys.

* The first rookie practice was held indoors Tuesday. Practices aren't open to the public until Friday; vets report Thursday. Rookie safety Maurice Alexander is full-go after missing all of OTAs due to having his knee scoped. Not sure at this point about 7th-round pick Christian Bryant or UDFA Jamaine Sherman.

* I'm going to go ahead and call Jo-Lonn Dunbar the winner of the fight he got in down in Miami this weekend. (He was charged with "breach of peace", not battery per original reports.) Apparently the altercation started between Dunbar and NBA player Donte Greene's brother, then Greene jumped Dunbar from behind. There is apparently long-standing bad blood between Dunbar and Greene. Dunbar contends he was only defending himself. I'm declaring him the winner of the fight because he wasn't the one who got tased. Yes, police had to taser Donte Greene to get him to stop attacking Dunbar. Dunbar should be on the field when the Rams have their first full practice on Friday.

* Rams 2013 highlight show on NFL Network Wednesday night at 7 Central.

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