PRO FOOTBALL: DAILY REPORT : RAMS : Standing Pat, Knox Puts Lilly at Safety

After trying out several veteran free agents late last week, the Rams have decided to stay with the defensive backs they have and try cornerback Sammy Lilly as a backup safety.

With strong safety Michael Stewart sidelined for at least four weeks because of a broken bone in his left forearm, starting free safety Anthony Newman has moved to Stewart’s spot, Pat Terrell has taken Newman’s position and Lilly, a career cornerback, has become a backup to Terrell.

“That’s a compliment, that really was a big compliment for me,” Lilly said of the team’s decision not to sign another safety. “It was, ‘Let’s let this young man see what he can do.’ They could have gone out and signed anybody at free safety, or signed a strong safety.”

One factor in keeping five corners and only three safeties was that the team probably would have had to release Lilly, a key special teams performer, to add a safety.

Said Coach Chuck Knox: “We’ve got eight DBs, and we just decided at this particular point that we’re staying with the people we have.”

The Rams, back from a weekend off, practiced in pads Monday, which is usually a no-pads, light work day.

“We needed some work on fundamentals, and you’ve got to put the shoulder pads on to get that done,” Knox said.

Knox said that wide receiver Flipper Anderson, who played sparingly in the Rams’ last game Oct. 18 because of a hamstring problem, probably will be listed as questionable later this week because of an ankle problem.