Rams report, 8/13: injury updates and a roster move

StLouisRams.com

Is it good or bad that this has been the least eventful training camp in St. Louis Rams history? Even at my awful pace of keeping RamView up to date, I haven't fallen all that far behind. Nothing's happening! Here's a little bit of catchup for this week since the Rams' first preseason game (recap just posted here earlier):

* Current injury report:
Out:
Michael Brockers (ankle) - is said to be moving well while working on the side and may return to full action soon
Matt Daniels (undisclosed) - apparently injured in Saints game
William Hayes - practiced Monday but was off Tuesday. Hayes has been on the mend from offseason surgeries to his hip, ankle and collarbone.
Janoris Jenkins (hamstring) - day-to-day
Barrett Jones (undisclosed) - day-to-day
Kadeem Jones (hamstring) - suited up for first time in camp Wednesday
James Laurinaitis (ankle) - day-to-day
Rodger Saffold (stinger) - day-to-day
Brandon Washington (undisclosed)
Darren Woodard (undisclosed) - apparently injured in Saints game

Wednesday's practice was just a special teams walkthrough, so there wasn't much to update on the injury/participation front.

Jeff Fisher has already announced Sam Bradford will play in Saturday's preseason game against the Packers. I would guess a couple of series. Much past the first quarter would be a big surprise to me.

On the offensive line, Scott Wells sounds like a good bet to play Saturday. I do not expect to see Jake Long, though he is practicing. Defensively, it sounds like Kendall Langford and Trumaine Johnson are practicing and will be able to play.


* Mason Brodine suffered a broken ankle in the game against the Saints and he was placed on season-ending injured reserve. To fill (part of) big Mason's roster spot, the Rams signed the much-smaller (6'2" 235) Brad Smelley, a former Alabama tight end who on the Rams practice squad for three days last season and no one told us. He finished last season with the Texans and was cut there last month. Smelley was drafted by the Browns in the 7th round in 2012 and spent most of that season on their practice squad.

Very quick scouting report: reliable receiver with soft hands, good blocker, good effort player. Not quick in any direction. Won't gain any separation as a route-runner. Will get pushed around by NFL-caliber defensive players. Not a refined blocker, plays out of control, needs to improve technique. Not powerful in the lower body.

Smelley's mainly suited to be a H-back/fullback type player in the NFL, which puts him squarely at FB2 on the Rams' depth chart behind Corey Harkey. His most practical mission will be to do something to impress another team while he's here.

-$-