By Brett Grassmuck
Staff Writer

MEQUON, Wis. –Donnie  Avery, the Rams'  second-round draft pick, arrived in Mequon, Wis., the same day as the Rams. But while the team traveled to Concordia University, Avery ended up in a hotel room in Mequon for two days.

“Day one, I came down,” Avery said. “I didn’t fly with the team, but I was down here in a hotel. The taxi took me like 30 minutes to get to my hotel, so I just caught the public bus everywhere I had to go.”

Avery’s hiatus from Rams training camp ended when he signed a four-year deal earlier today. He reconnected with his team in time for Saturday’s afternoon workout.

“I know he was real excited to get out here and get everything done,” coach Scott Linehan said. “It was good to have him out. We need the depth, number one, and he needs the reps to catch up with the couple practices he missed.”

Avery spent the last two days working out at the hotel and listening to the Temptations on his iPod. All the time, waiting for his agent, Vann McElroy, to let him know a deal was done.

“I’m the type of guy that hates being inside,” Avery said. “I was on the public bus going places like the market or getting clothes.”

Avery had plenty of time outside during his first practice of the season. The coaching staff tested the young wide receiver right away with a long route down the right sideline.

“He had fresh legs, very lively,” Linehan said. “I didn’t notice that he had any issues with any mental things.”

Avery was happy to rejoin his teammates and begin his NFL career, but he’ll certainly be given a hard time by some of the veterans.

“He’ll get harassed enough to get his penalty,” Linehan said.

NO ACTION FROM JACKSON

Running back Steven Jackson’s holdout of Rams training camp continued Saturday as he was absent from both practices and team meetings.

Rams coach Scott Linehan said Jackson’s situation had not changed from Friday.

Jackson has one year left on his current contract, but is holding out of training camp for a contract extension. Rams president Jay Zygmunt said yesterday that the team would not negotiate with Jackson’s agent, Eugene Parker, while Jackson was out of camp.

INJURY UPDATE

Cornerback Fakhir Brown underwent an MRI on his left shoulder this morning which revealed a severe sprain, including slight tear of the rotator cuff. Linehan said the injury will keep the cornerback out of action for a couple weeks.

“We’re going to stay conservative with it,” Linehan said. “If it were an in-season situation, it would be a game-time decision type of thing. For right now, we have to see if we can get him back to health as soon as we can.”

Brown lost his footing on a deep ball down the sideline during seven-on-seven drills at Friday’s practice. He reached out to brace himself and fell awkwardly on his left shoulder.

Wide receiver Keenan Burton and defensive end C.J. Ah You were limited in the second half of Saturday’s afternoon workout. Burton was battling tendonitis while Ah You was likely suffering from a strained quadricep.