By Nick Wagoner
Senior Writer

The Rams elected their captains Monday afternoon, paring down the number of team leaders from nine in 2007 to five in 2008.

The offensive captains are quarterback Marc Bulger and receiver Torry Holt. Linebacker Will Witherspoon and safety Corey Chavous will lead the defense and safety Todd Johnson will be the leader of the special teams.

The captains are voted on by the rest of the team though coach Scott Linehan and the staff do have a role in the process.

“I do the counting to make sure it’s all accurate,” Linehan said. “Yeah, I’m Price-Waterhouse. It says a lot about those five guys.”

Bulger said early in camp that he hoped to expand his leadership role in 2008 and being a captain is certainly a part of that. This is the fourth time in Bulger’s career and the fourth year in a row he has been chosen.

Holt has long been viewed as a leader for the Rams offense and continues in 2008. Holt was a captain in 2007.

Chavous is widely regarded as the locker room leader and is now in his third season as a Rams captain and third in a row.

Witherspoon was chosen as a captain for the first time last year and is now in his second consecutive year in that role.

Johnson is making his debut as a captain in his second season as a Ram.

Players that were captains in 2007 that did not get their roles renewed this year include defensive tackle La’Roi Glover,

“There are some other really good guys that received a significant amount of votes,” Linehan said. “But it was pretty unanimous.”

HAPPY RETURNS: The Rams got plenty of good news on the practice field Monday in terms of players returning from injury.

Receivers Dante Hall (ankle) and Drew Bennett (groin) and cornerback Fakhir Brown (shoulder) returned to the practice field.

All were limited in the practice but are expecting to be ready for this weekend and complete a full week of practice.

A HOT ONE: Monday’s practice was one of the hottest sessions for the team this season. Under the broiling sun, the Rams completed the practice without many casualties though rookie wide out Keenan Burton apparently had some “stomach issues” during the work out.

“It was a tough day,” Linehan said. “It was hot out here. I sound like a masochist but I was glad it was hot. We need it. We need to get work in this kind of weather. It could be like this Sunday and it could be like this three weeks from now.”

INJURY REPORT: While the likes of Brown, Bennett, Hall, Orlando Pace and Oshiomogho Atogwe were participating in the practice, the Rams had a pair of players on the sideline doing light work.

Receiver Donnie Avery, who has a sprained right knee, did some light running on the side and his status for Sunday remains up in the air.

“He did not suit up today,” Linehan said. “He did light work and was running but we’ll wait and see Wednesday.”

Practice squad cornerback Darius Vinnett (knee) also sat out the practice.

Overall, Linehan says he feels good about the health of his team. 

“We have got a couple of nicks but probably not unlike anybody in the league,” Linehan said. “But I feel really good about it. The core of our team has had a lot of work this preseason. Now that we are in game week I feel pretty good about it.”