Rams : Duckworth Acquired in Trade; 4 Unidentified Players Waived

Eric Dickerson celebrated his 25th birthday in Sealy, Tex., Monday, while the Rams tried to conduct business as usual.

They reduced their roster to the final 45 and tried to strengthen their inexperienced corps of receivers by trading for the San Diego Chargers’ Bobby Duckworth. The Chargers got reserve offensive tackle Gary Kowalski and a fifth-round draft choice in 1986.

Linebacker George Andrews, who had knee surgery on Sunday, was placed on the injured reserve list.

In a more mysterious move, the Rams reached the regular-season roster limit by waiving four players whom they refused to identify. Even the players were not informed and practiced with the team as usual.

Coach John Robinson said: “We’re going to try to play with the (waiver) system a little bit.”

The reason for the mystery, Robinson indicated, was that two of the players would probably be re-activated if they go unclaimed and might never know they had been waived.

“I don’t want them to feel I’m pushing them off a cliff,” Robinson said.

The two would replace injured rookies Chuck Scott and Duval Love, who were due to be placed on injured reserve today. By placing Scott and Duval on injured reserve from the final 45-man roster, the Rams could bring them back in four weeks instead of six.

Duckworth, who was a backup to Charlie Joiner in San Diego, did not arrive at Anaheim in time for Monday’s practice.

“From what I know of him, he’s tall (6-3) and can run,” Robinson said.

A sixth-round draft choice in 1981, Duckworth has 47 career receptions for an average of 25.8 yards.