Nick’s Notes:July 29, 2008

MEQUON , Wis. –

-         As usual, business comes first. The Rams made a roster move Tuesday morning, adding defensive tackle Henry Smith and coming to an injury settlement/waivers agreement with defensive tackle Joshua Thompson.

-         Thompson, of course, suffered a torn right plantar fascia and would have missed considerable time. He was on crutches as of Monday afternoon.

-         Smith is a 6’3, 315 pounder out of Texas a&M. Smith had a reputation as a solid space eater though his college production wasn’t much in terms of numbers. Smith is considered more of a nose tackle and will give the Rams some more depth at a position that has been losing players to injury on a regular basis at the beginning of camp.

-         On to some injury news. Receiver Donnie Avery suffered a small break in his pelvic bone. The injury kept Avery out of Tuesday’s practice though he ran some routes out of pads after practice. Scott Linehan says the injury can only be cured with time and rest. Avery isn’t expected to have a prolonged absence but the injury is a bit of a disappointment since he arrived a day late.

-         Guard Mark Setterstrom, who has been having a terrific camp in this observer’s estimation, missed Tuesday’s practice also because of numbness in his right leg. Setterstrom tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left leg last season. There was nothing further as far as the severity of the injury though Linehan suggested it might have come from a nerve situation that came from the braces he always wears on his knees.

-         Linebacker Chris Draft is still dealing with a sore lower back and also didn’t practice. Safety Oshiomogho Atogwe (hamstring), tight end Anthony Becht (hamstring) and defensive end Victor Adeyanju (broken finger) also missed the practice.

-         Linehan reported positive news on Adeyanju’s surgery, saying there were no problems with the procedure and he should be fine after a few weeks to slap a cast on it and play through it.

-         On to the happenings on the field. Tuesday’s practice was fairly clearly the sloppiest of the sessions so far up here. The offense is still struggling to catch up, though receiver Torry Holt continues to make seemingly every play that comes his way. Dane Looker also had a nice day, turning cornerback Justin King in knots on his way to a touchdown catch.

-         And from the Department of Redundancy Department, Derek Stanley came through with his usual catch or two that simply wows everyone in attendance. He closed the practice with a scintillating catch on a fade pattern over two defenders. Again, the race at receiver is too close to call for the final spot or two on the depth but it’s going to be hard to keep Stanley off of it if this continues.

-         A couple of other notes from the workout: Center Brett Romberg is practicing but got his hand smashed in a pile yesterday. That made it hard for him to grip the ball and opened things up for Richie Incognito to work with the first unit in Tuesday’s practice. Incognito had a solid day and had no exchange issues.

-         Left tackle Orlando Pace is starting to work more in the team drills as he continues to build back toward full time work.

-         Linebacker Vince Hall is also battling a hamstring issue and probably trails the rest of the young ‘backers at this point in camp. He has yet to come up with a big play in team while the others all seem to have made a difference.