By NICK WAGONER
Staff Writer

The Chicago Bears weren’t the only new football players in Macomb on Thursday afternoon.

The Rams continued their steady diet of roster moves by adding a pair of players to a couple of positions that were getting pretty thin. Offensive lineman Chris Dishman, another former Arizona Cardinal, signed with St. Louis and arrived at practice today.

Dishman, who is the second former Cardinal to join the team this week, (Tom Knight signed Tuesday) took snaps at guard and center in the afternoon workout. Dishman enters his eighth season out of Nebraska. He comes to the Rams from his home in Arizona, where he was coaching high school football. Dishman had had some concerns about returning to the league, but coach Mike Martz said he was able to ease those worries.

“He did not want to come back and play for a team that he just felt like didn’t have a chance to contend,” Martz said. “He was excited when I called him.”

To make room for Dishman, the Rams released backup punter Jesse Nicassio. Nicassio was a rookie out of Eastern Washington.

Much like the Knight addition, defensive coordinator endorsed Dishman’s signing. Dishman wore the No. 66 of injured offensive lineman Ryan Schau. Schau is still with the team, but has missed a majority of the practices.

Martz said it would take Dishman, 6-feet-3, 375 pounds, a little while to get back into playing shape, but he suspects that Dishman will be able to contribute in time.

“He sounds like a coach when you talk to him,” Martz said. “I’ve always admired the way he plays. He’s a good addition for us. We are going to be careful with him and kind of get him back into shape and get him mentally into what we are doing.

“He just sounds very passionate about playing this game.”

Dishman wasn’t the only new player in blue and gold Thursday afternoon. Tight end Ryan Prince, a former San Diego Charger, also worked out. San Diego released Prince early this week. Prince comes to the Rams from NFL Europe and is a roster exemption along the lines of offensive lineman Peter Heyer.

Martz said Prince is more than roster filler. “He looks like he is a pretty nifty guy,” Prince said. “He is a terrific receiver just watching him down there. We just want somebody that can come in and have the potential of making this squad, not somebody just to have in camp to take a place and get cut.”

Rookie Erik Jensen, who is out with a sprained knee, made the addition of another tight end necessary. Martz said Wednesday night that he expects Jensen back in about two weeks.

MANY HAPPY RETURNS: Former defensive coordinator Lovie Smith returned to Macomb with his new team Thursday. Martz said it was only a matter of time before Smith got a head coaching job and expects Smith to succeed.
The two coaches met briefly Thursday morning and Martz congratulated him on the job. The mutual admiration between the men was apparent right away.

“He is an innovator, he did it the right way,” Smith said.  “I could talk on and on about Mike Martz. He is one of the better guys you will meet and of course, one of the better coaches in the league.

INJURY UPDATE: Defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy rolled his foot during the workout and hobbled off the field. Martz said he didn’t yet know the extent of the injury.

Knight dislocated or fractured a finger in the workout, but shouldn’t miss considerable time.

Safety Rich Coady returned to practice and moved well. The rest of the injury report looked the same. Robert Cromartie, Jerametrius Butler, Brandon Spoon and Cam Cleeland missed workouts with continued hamstring tightness. Brandon Chillar missed his second workout with a shoulder injury. Anthony Hargrove continues to miss time with knee and ankle injuries.

Offensive tackle Kyle Turley traveled to Atlanta to meet with his third back specialist this week. Martz has not been able to get in touch with Turley since he left for St. Louis, but he expects Turley will have some news soon.