After catching five passes as a rookie in San Francisco, tight end Billy Bajema dutifully lined up in 30 consecutive games over the next two seasons and served in a role that amounts to essentially a glorified third tackle.

In that two-year span, Bajema caught nary a pass and thus took the title of “blocking tight end” a little too seriously.

“It was frustrating because I feel like I’d like to be more part of the passing game,” Bajema said. “But my role for those two years in San Francisco was to be the blocking guy so I just tried to do whatever I could to help the team win. But I always hoped to have a chance to make plays.”

Since signing with the Rams as an unrestricted free agent on March 30, 2008, those chances to make plays have come Bajema’s way far more frequently.

To wit, in Bajema’s four seasons with the 49ers, he caught seven passes for 88 yards and never scored a touchdown.

This season alone, Bajema’s second in St. Louis, he has 11 receptions for 106 yards. And it wasn’t until last week’s game against Denver that Bajema finally hit pay dirt, catching a 2-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Sam Bradford in the second quarter, only moments after dropping a pass as he came open on a crossing pattern.

Less than three minutes later, Bajema caught another one, this time from 26 yards out when he came clean on a throwback across the field from Bradford.

“It was exciting,” Bajema said. “It’s just exciting to be a part of helping the team win and doing some things in the passing game that makes it even better.”

What really makes it better is that there is probably not a player more deserving of that kind of success than the blue collar Bajema.

Confined to his blue collar role with opportunities to make catches come too few and far between, Bajema has never once complained about his status within the team. Instead, the quiet Oklahoman simply keeps his head down and goes about his business every day and remains humble (for the record, he kept the first touchdown ball and gave the second back to the officials). 

“He is a gamer,” coach Steve Spagnuolo said. “And he comes to work every day to work. He’s one of the hardest working guys out here. He’s been doing that since we got him two years ago.”

In fact, when Bradford and the rest of the rookie class came to town to begin working with their teammates, various members of the coaching staff immediately pointed to Bajema as a guy who sets the example that they needed to follow to make an immediate impact on the team.

“Billy is just a guy who does everything very well,” Bradford said. “If you need him to block someone, he can block someone. If you need him to run a route, he can do it. When the rookies all got here, it seemed like all the coaches pointed to Billy and said ‘If you want to know what a professional is, look at Billy Bajema. And that’s what it is. It’s someone who comes to work every day, he works hard, he does the right thing and he helps this football team in a lot of different ways.”

Quietly and effectively, Bajema claimed the starting job at tight end before the season because of the well rounded game that Bradford mentioned.

A knee injury put Bajema on the sidelines from weeks three through five. But upon his return, Bajema quickly worked his way back into the mix and has been getting more looks from Bradford with each passing week.

“I think it’s just a matter of going out day in and day out and trying to make plays and prove I can catch the ball and be reliable when I get the opportunity,” Bajema said. “It’s just a matter of hopefully breaking through and being seen as a guy that can be relied upon.”

Clearly, Bradford already relies on Bajema after he was reward for going right back to him only a couple of snaps after the drop. 

When he was informed that Bajema went two full seasons without a catch, Bradford expressed sincere shock and surprise.

“That blows my mind,” Bradford said. “I didn’t know that until you said it right now. But that blows my mind because the things he is able to do in this offense, the way he catches the ball, he has got great hands, it’s hard to believe he went two full seasons without a catch.”

Don’t expect Bajema to ever have to wait nearly as long again.

CHRISTMAS WISHES: Bradford has been eagerly awaiting the arrival Wednesday because it meant it was time to flip the calendar over to December.

That means time for Christmas and holiday celebrations but Bradford’s excitement was more centered on the end of November rather than the beginning of December.

That enthusiasm stemmed from the “No Shave November” practice in the locker room that Bradford was directed to take part in by his veteran teammates.

So Bradford dutifully grew out his facial hair for the month and looked forward to Dec. 1 so he could go back to his clean shaven ways.

But Bradford was informed this week that he’d have to wait a bit longer than anticipated. So he went through his final round of media work Wednesday without a shave and explained why.

“After the team Christmas picture tonight it will definitely be shaved off,” Bradford said. “It’s going to be a team Christmas card. It should be good. People should keep an eye open for it.”

Some of the more playful Rams have been known to piece together humorous Christmas cards in which they dress up in tacky Christmas garb or costumes for cards to distribute to family and friends.

The shoot was scheduled for tonight at an undisclosed location.

MILLER TIME: Linebacker/fullback/special teams dynamo Brit Miller got his first action on offense last week against Denver, working in for a few snaps in front of running back Steven Jackson.

It was just another example of Miller’s versatility as the youngster out of Illinois continues to show his value to the team in a number of blue collar areas.

“He’s done that before and he’s been in the running back room the whole time so we’ll see how it goes,” Spagnuolo said.

Of course, Miller’s greatest value remains on special teams where he plays on all four units and has quickly become a key contributor.

Since being called up from the practice squad for the Oct. 17 game against San Diego, Miller has racked up nine special teams tackles in just six games.

“He’s been a real key special teams guy, a real core guy for Tom (McMahon),” Spagnuolo said. “He plays on all of them and he’s been very helpful there. He’s doing a good job.”

INJURY REPORT: The Rams continue to be one of the healthiest teams in the league, especially considering how late in the season it is.

Only defensive tackle Darell Scott was added to the mix on Wednesday, listed as a limited participant in Wednesday’s practice because of a sore foot.

Tight end Michael Hoomanawanui, as expected, is listed as out for this week because of his previously prescribed high ankle sprain.

Hoomanawanui is expected to miss four to six weeks with that injury, leaving his status for the rest of the season in doubt with just five games to play.

Spagnuolo said no decision on Hoomanawanui’s future has been made just yet.

“No, we’ll just sit tight and see where he is at it goes on,” Spagnuolo said.