Rams Activate Collins, Place Owens on Reserve

As expected, the Rams added linebacker Jim Collins to the active roster Friday.

To make room, they placed linebacker Mel Owens on injured reserve. Owens has a severe ankle sprain that apparently will not heal sufficiently for him to play before the end of the season.

Owens has been on the Rams’ inactive list the last four games with the injury, which he suffered in practice on Oct. 7. The Rams had targeted a Dec. 5 return for Owens against Chicago but plans were changed after Owens tried to work out this week.

Owens tried playing against Atlanta Oct. 9, sat out the next week against San Francisco and further injured the ankle when he tried to return against Seattle Oct. 23. He has been out ever since.

Owens, from Michigan, who is in his eighth season, was off to the fastest start of his career before the injury. In six games, Owens, a key man in the Rams’ Eagle defense, had 5 sacks, 21 tackles and an interception. Second-year man Larry Kelm has replaced him in the Eagle since the injury.