Ram Notebook : Long Is Expected to Replace Injured Guman on Roster

Ram Coach John Robinson said Wednesday he expects later this week to activate tight end Darren Long, who will replace Mike Guman on the team’s 45-man roster. Guman was injured in Sunday’s 26-13 victory over the New Orleans Saints and underwent arthroscopic knee surgery Monday morning. He will miss the rest of the season.

Robinson said Long, formerly of Cal State Long Beach and the Los Angeles Express of the United States Football League, will play special teams and may back up at fullback.

Long has spent the season on injured reserve. In activating Long, the Rams will use their one free roster move to bring a player from the preseason injury list to the active roster without exposing him to league waivers.

The move confirms that linebacker Jim Collins, out all season with nerve damage in his left shoulder, will not return to the active roster this season.

If Collins were to return this season, the Rams would have to risk clearing him through league waivers. Collins, of course, would be claimed by another team.

Robinson said he believes Collins will be back next season.

“It’s starting to come back,” Robinson said of Collins’ shoulder.

Television sports analyst Paul Maguire predicted last weekend that the New York Jets, the Rams’ opponent Sunday, will not win another game this season.

The Jets, then 10-1, made Maguire look good in Monday night’s 45-3 loss to the Miami Dolphins.

Maguire’s comments shook some Jet fans but not the players.

“We don’t pay attention to stuff like that,” Jet receiver Al Toon said Wednesday. “We’re the only ones who can win games.”

More on Toon: Though only in his second NFL season out of Wisconsin, Toon is second in the NFL in receptions with 70 for 988 yards and almost certainly will become the first Jet since Wesley Walker in 1978 to gain more than 1,000 receiving yards.

Toon is big (6 feet 4 inches) and fast and has great hands. Robinson is comparing him to the Green Bay Packers’ James Lofton and the San Francisco 49ers’ Jerry Rice.

“He’s a prototype,” Robinson said of Toon. “With guys like he and Rice, you say ‘wow, that’s the kind of wide receiver everyone’s going to have to cover.’ ”

Toon said he doesn’t emulate any receiver.

“I never had an idol,” Toon said. “I don’t study other receivers. All receivers have their own qualities and character.”

Ram Notes Safety Tim Fox (thigh) is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game. Guard Dennis Harrah (chest), tackle Irv Pankey (thigh) and Greg Meisner (shin) are all probable. . . . The Jets’ loss to Miami Monday night was their most lopsided defeat since a 56-3 beating from the New England Patriots in 1979.