SB Nation St. Louis - St. Louis Rams Training Camp Schedule: Practices Get Underway On Sunday Afternoon

St. Louis Rams Training Camp: Rookie RB Daryl Richardson Makes Debut On Wednesday

2012-08-08T19:56:02Z

Rookie running back Daryl Richardson made his debut at St. Louis Rams training camp on Tuesday, as Andrew Wagaman of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes. The Rams' 2012 seventh-round pick is looking to become the team's third-string running back behind starter Steven Jackson and back-up Isaiah Pead.

Richardson, a product of Division II Abilene Christian, was the Rams' final pick in the 2012 draft. He pulled his hamstring near the end of minicamps in June, but Wagaman says that he looked fully healthy during drills with the Rams on Wednesday.

Even though Richardson told reporters he was still somewhat tight early on, he's mentioned that stretching has improved his condition. After putting up solid numbers for Abilene Christian, the Rams are hoping he can become a pleasant surprise in their backfield this season.

For more on Rams training camp, keep it locked to SB Nation St. Louis. And visit the Rams blog Turf Show Times for additional Rams coverage all season long.

Sam Bradford's Ankle Injury Doesn't Concern St. Louis Rams Coach Jeff Fisher

2012-08-08T02:38:55Z

Sam Bradford's 2011 season was haunted by a high ankle sprain that caused the quarterback to miss six games and play injured in plenty of others. Bradford suffered the injury in the fourth quarter of St. Louis' 24-3 loss to the Green Bay Packers on October 16, but there remains some concern the sprain to the Oklahoma product could linger into this season.

New Rams head coach Jeff Fisher said on Tuesday that high ankle sprains could linger for up to a year, but doesn't expect Bradford to be too hampered by the injury this season.

"There’s going to be residual effects from high-ankle sprains, especially when you come back into practice like he is," Fisher said.

"But we don’t anticipate it to be a problem, and it hasn’t been one. He’s moving around fine."

A former No. 1 overall draft pick entering his third pro season, Bradford finished with 2,164 yards, six touchdowns and six interceptions for St. Louis in 2011.

For more on Rams training camp, keep it locked to SB Nation St. Louis. And visit the Rams blog Turf Show Times for additional Rams coverage all season long.

St. Louis Rams Training Camp: Rodger Saffold And Scott Wells Remain Sidelined

2012-08-07T01:24:38Z

It's all about Sam Bradford at St. Louis Rams training camp as the quarterback enters his third season, but it's no secret the Oklahoma product won't be able to turn around his team's fortunes unless he can remain upright. The offensive line is a major concern in St. Louis, and early training camp injuries to a couple front five stalwarts could soon start to worry first year head coach Jeff Fisher.

Left tackle Rodger Saffold is the man tasked with protecting Bradford's blind side, but he's currently fighting a minor groin pull. The Rams are being cautious so the injury doesn't linger and turn into a season-long problem.

Center Scott Wells also remains sidelined. Wells was signed to play center after a long career with the Green Bay Packers, but he's been unable to gel with his new teammates since training camp started.

For more on Rams training camp, keep it locked to SB Nation St. Louis. And visit the Rams blog Turf Show Times for additional Rams coverage all season long.

NFL Referee Lockout: League To Employ Female Ref In Preseason

2012-08-06T18:20:08Z

Referee Shannon Eastin is poised to break a long-time barrier in not only the NFL, but professional American sports, when she becomes the first female on-field official in either the NFL or the MLB, the two biggest pro leagues in the U.S.

With the league's officials union locked in a collective bargaining agreement battle with the NFL, the league has taken to hiring non-union officials for the preseason, which started on Sunday night. The league hopes to resolve the labor dispute, the first since 2001, before the beginning of the regular season.

Eastin, according to the Chicago Tribune, has been a high school and small-college ref, but on Thursday, she will be a part of the officiating crew for the Green Bay Packers-San Diego Chargers game on Thursday night.

For more news and notes from around pro football, visit SB Nation's NFL news hub or swing by one of the team blogs for a closer look at the franchises.

Rams Training Camp 2012: Sam Bradford Looking 'Bigger And Stronger'

2012-08-05T01:58:20Z

In his latest NFL Training Camp blog entry, ESPN's John Clayton came away with a number of good impressions from the St. Louis Rams QB Sam Bradford, suggesting the third-year quarterback might be able to recapture his "elite quarterback" rookie upside:

Bradford looks great. He has lifted weights in the offseason and is bigger and stronger. He finished last season at 216 pounds. Now, he's 225 and throwing with authority. Schottenheimer is adding more motion to the offense with his receivers to confuse defenses. A smarter offensive scheme should mean better quarterback play for the Rams.

In his first two years, Bradford has started 26 games and compiled 5676 passing yards with 24 touchdowns for just a 74.2 quarterback rating.

For more on Rams training camp, keep it locked to SB Nation St. Louis. And visit the Rams blog Turf Show Times for additional Rams coverage all season long.

Rams Training Camp 2012: Rokevious Watkins Back In Playing Shape

2012-08-04T19:32:35Z

Offensive lineman Rokevious Watkins reported to Rams rookie camp out of shape, and the organization held him out of drills while he worked on the issue. Now that he's gotten himself into better shape, the South Carolina product is finally able to participate fully in practice.

A week after reporting, as the Rams spent their second day in full pads Friday, the 6-3, 341-pound Watkins was on the field, at a better weight and seeing significant time with the second and third teams.

"I'm just glad to be back out on the field," he said. "I thank the trainers for doing it the right way and getting me back out there safely. Now that I'm back out there, I'm just basically trying to get the mental part of it down."

For more on Rams training camp, keep it locked to SB Nation St. Louis. And visit the Rams blog Turf Show Times for additional Rams coverage all season long.

Janoris Jenkins Is Your Official St. Louis Rams Training Camp Breakout Candidate

2012-08-04T12:00:35Z

Rams Training Camp 2012: Darian Stewart, Craig Dahl Battling For Safety Spot

2012-08-03T17:31:14Z

The St. Louis Rams have what is becoming a yearly rite between DB Darian Stewart and DB Craig Dahl. According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, both Dahl and Stewart are swapping days on the starting team. And though the arrangement is competitive, the duo is keeping on good terms and working to push each other:

"He's a good player, and I know I'm a good player," Stewart said. "We know we're both capable of being starters at this level. So it's all competition — at the same time we're just making each other better."

Dahl, 27, started 5 games at strong safety for the Rams in 2011, collecting 42 tackles and 1 interception. The four-year veteran spent the majority of 2010 as the starting strong safety for the Rams.

Stewart, 26, is in his second NFL season, and is coming off a 2011 season where he started 11 games with 60 tackles, 3.0 sacks and 1 interception.

For more on Rams training camp, keep it locked to SB Nation St. Louis. And visit the Rams blog Turf Show Times for additional Rams coverage all season long.