Rams report, 9/20

Reuters

A few notes from the world's slowest blog:

* Injury report for Sunday:

Out: besides Trumaine Johnson and Barrett Jones, Brandon McGee is out for Sunday due to a foot injury;

Questionable: Tavon Austin (knee), Corey Harkey (knee), Shaun Hill (quad).

All indications are that Austin will not play, with Stedman Bailey replacing him in the slot and Austin Pettis handling punt returns. Shaun Hill is also not expected to play, giving Austin Davis a second straight start. And while Hill is much likelier to be good to go after the bye week, if Davis plays well tomorrow, I would see no reason to sit him for Hill. Somebody will have to explain to me how exactly Shaun Hill won the starting QB job so decisively otherwise. Because he didn't.

For Dallas, linebacker Justin Durant is out and Rolando McClain (groin) is doubtful; could be all backups at LB for them. Dez Bryant (back) is questionable; I just don't think the Rams have much excuse not to devote extra attention to Demarco Murray because they're afraid of Bryant, which has been their issue the past two meetings.

* Transactions: Bailey has been re-activated; Kevin Reddick was cut from the practice squad and Matt Conrath sent back to the practice squad to clear a spot for Bailey.

Zimbio/Getty Images

The Rams also added cornerback Jemea Thomas to the practice squad and cut Justin Veltung. Thomas is listed at 5'10", 195 and started every game his last two years at Georgia Tech. He was their top cover corner but played all over the secondary and also returned kicks and punts. His Tech bio calls him a great open-field tackler, one of the hardest hitters on the team and one of the most talented and versatile DBs in the ACC last year. A small, not quick, but tough in-the-box safety with 9 career INTs and 8 pass breakups last season. New England drafted Thomas in the 6th round this year but released him in the first round of cuts. The Cowboys picked him up for their practice squad but waived him on Tuesday.


The current practice squad: Denicos Allen, Emory Blake, Kourtnei Brown, Christian Bryant, Conrath, Garrett Gilbert, Mike Remmers, Brad Smelley, Thomas and Brandon Washington.

* Rams alumni report:
- Detroit signed Danny Gorrer;
- Chicago cut Matthew Mulligan.

* The Rams are 1-point underdogs Sunday but fans are picking Dallas in straight-up pools at an 82-83% clip. Vegas has been a lot higher on the Rams than the public so far this season. We'll see whose faith is rewarded tomorrow.

-$-