R.B. FALLSTROM
AP Sports Writer
ST. LOUIS (AP) — The often-invoked cliche “next man up” is really getting put to the test for the sliding, injury-plagued St. Louis Rams.
They have so many holes to fill that safety Mark Barron, acquired from Tampa Bay on Tuesday, could play this week at San Francisco.
“I wouldn’t rule it out whatsoever,” coach Jeff Fisher said Wednesday after a walkthrough to allow bodies to heal instead of the standard practice. “We’ll see how quickly things go this week.”
The Rams (2-5) are coming off a dispiriting 34-7 loss to the Chiefs, with six players sidelined during the game. Moving forward, Fisher said he wouldn’t be using injuries as an excuse.
“We’re going to bounce back this week,” the coach said. We’ll have some people come back as the week goes on.”
So far, Barron said it’s “been a whirlwind, most definitely,” and was unaware he’d been on the trading block at Tampa Bay.
“I had no idea that any of it was going on,” Barron said. “But I am excited about the situation.”
Barron entered the field midway through the one-hour walkthrough, which was followed by a private session on the indoor field. Fisher said there are 13 players on the injury report, an estimated list given everything was slowed down, and he’s trying to conserve bodies.
“I felt like we needed to back down,” Fisher said. “Our focus is having them ready on Sunday.”
Fisher said it was a bit of a surprise that Barron, a first-round pick in 2012, was available. He didn’t say how Barron would be used right away.
“Whatever the reasons are down there, we had an opportunity to take advantage of getting a good player,” Fisher said. “I spoke with him last night after we put the deal together and obviously he was surprised and shocked, but excited about a new start.”
The Rams are more aggressive defensively than Tampa Bay, and said sitting back in Cover 2 “honestly didn’t play to my strengths.”
“Yeah, it is passive,” Barron said. “A lot of times I had to sit back and not be as aggressive as I wanted to in that system. I feel like I’m an athletic guy, I can do whatever I’m asked to do.”
Both Rams safeties, T.J. McDonald and Rodney McLeod, are healthy.
“Whenever and wherever he plays, I can’t answer that right now,” Fisher said. “But we got a good player.”
The Rams have plenty of questions on offense, too.
“We’ll see who recovers and who doesn’t,” quarterback Austin Davis said. “We’ll be ready to go by Sunday. We don’t have to be ready today.”
Quarterback Case Keenum, released a day earlier, was re-signed to the practice squad.
“Just took the day off,” Keenum said, joking.
They added depth at wide receiver by signing Damian Williams and elevated linebacker Korey Toomer and offensive lineman Brandon Washington to the active roster. Wide receiver Emory Blake, tight end Justice Cunningham and offensive linemen Travis Bond and Steven Baker were signed to the practice squad.
“That’s the business, and you’ve got to learn to adapt to it,” Toomer said.
Offensive tackle Jake Long (knee) and wide receiver Brian Quick (shoulder) were placed on injured reserve.
Rookie quarterback Garrett Gilbert was released from the practice squad and the Panthers signed tackle Mike Remmers off St. Louis’ practice squad. Cornerback Jemea Thomas was released.
Two other offensive linemen, center Scott Wells and guard Rodger Saffold, were injured in the Chiefs loss. Washington has been with the team much of the last two seasons and appeared in one game last year.
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