It’s been a whirlwind two months for 
After starting the season considered a special teams ace for the Giants, he’s now just plain starting for the Rams only about a month and a half later.
“It’s kind of funny,” Kehl said. “New York is great and the coaches are great. It just wasn’t a good situation for me. It’s a great organization and place to play but just for me personally it wasn’t a great situation. So when I got waived, I wasn’t mad. I was happy to have an opportunity to go start anew somewhere else and get an opportunity to get on the field on defense so it’s been very gratifying to come here and see that happening.”
The Rams claimed Kehl off waivers from New York after the first game of the season back in September.
Kehl came into the league in 2008 as a fourth-round pick of the Giants out of Brigham Young University. In his rookie season, Kehl played for Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo, who was coordinating the Giants defense at the time.
In that one season, Kehl didn’t get many opportunities to play on defense but Spagnuolo immediately took notice of Kehl’s physical skills.
“Bryan’s one of those guys, in my opinion, one of those athletic linebacker types, so you put him at Will linebacker,” Spagnuolo said. “He’s helped us on special teams. Immediately when he got here, he helped us in the third down in the nickel package at Will. He’s a good football player.”
Kehl was initially thought to be picked up as help for the special teams after that unit lost stalwart linebacker
Right away, Kehl chipped in there and also eventually began to work his way into the mix on defense, mostly as the team’s second linebacker in nickel packages.
Against Tampa Bay on Oct. 24, Kehl didn’t start but played a lot of snaps on the weak side in place of
“It’s good,” Kehl said. “Hopefully I can just play well in whatever they ask me to do. Whatever they ask me to do; I am going to try to do my best. You definitely want to get to a point where you can be a known, dominating defensive player in the NFL. I am definitely not there, far from it but I believe I can get there and so hopefully I can just get to where I am a perennial starter and then get to that level. It’s one step at a time, that’s the goal at least.”
Early returns on Kehl’s debut start have been positive. He played 26 snaps against the Panthers and posted three tackles. For the season, he has 11 stops, a quarterback pressure, a quarterback hit and six special teams tackles.
Where Kehl stands out most, though, is in coverage and in space. He’s known as a sure tackler with good coverage skills for a linebacker.
“I think my biggest asset is athleticism and speed,” Kehl said. “I think that’s my biggest asset but also just understanding what offenses are going to do and anticipating. One thing I have always prided myself on is being around the ball, always around the ball. Good things always happen if you can do that.”
That Kehl was able to break into the starting lineup at all is impressive considering he doesn’t come with an Ohio State degree on his resume.
“You’ve got to kind of break in and earn your stripes with those guys so one step at a time there,” Kehl said, laughing.
SMITH CLEARED: Rams tackle
Smith did not play against the Panthers but was able to participate on a limited basis during the team’s lone practice during the bye week. He’s expected to start at his usual spot at right tackle against the 49ers.
“I’m feeling great,” Smith said. “I’m glad to be cleared and be out there with the team.”
Smith said this concussion was much different than the one he suffered that kept him out the bulk of his rookie season.
“They both started out about the same but a concussion is a concussion,” Smith said. “You get the same kind of feeling but this one here the Lord allowed to clear up.”
ALEXANDER OK: Receiver
After four surgeries on his left knee, the immediate thought was to expect the worst.
“I kind of figured the worst but once I got my MRI and we had a feeling what it was, I told the doctors ‘let’s get it done,’” Alexander said. “I could have played with it but it’s better to get it cleaned out so I can be healthy and be ready.”
Luckily for Alexander and the Rams, the injury had nothing to do with ligaments and he suffered some torn meniscus in the knee. That required a quick scope to clean up and left him with a return time of two to four weeks.
The news was good and Alexander was pro active about getting back on the practice field. At Monday’s practice, Alexander was moving around well and he did the same on the sidelines of Wednesday’s workout.
It’s almost certain he won’t return in time to play at San Francisco on Sunday but he does appear to be on track to return sometime within the initially diagnosed timetable.
“I am able to jog around and stuff like that,” Alexander said. “I haven’t actually ran yet. I will probably do that this week. Once that happens, I’ll be ready to roll.”
INJURY REPORT: With Smith back in the fold and a full bye week in the rearview mirror, the Rams have begun to get healthy and had just four players on the sideline as “out” status during Wednesday’s practice.
Safety
Cornerback
