PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : RAMS : Stams, Hawkins on Injured Reserve

The Rams placed middle linebacker Frank Stams and defensive end Bill Hawkins on the injured-reserve list and signed linebacker Terry Crews and defensive tackle Chris Pike to replace them. Stams has a pulled leg muscle, Hawkins bruised ribs.

Crews, the Rams’ 11th-round draft choice this year, had been on the team’s practice squad and will play on special teams. Pike, who played under Ram defensive line coach John Teerlinck for the past two years with the Cleveland Browns, was signed as a Plan B free agent during the off-season by the San Diego Chargers but never reported and was subsequently released.

“A big, powerful guy,” Coach John Robinson said of the 6-foot-8, 300-pound Pike. (He will) kind of do the same thing that Al Wright does--power inside.”

Last year, Pike played in 12 games and made 32 tackles.

Three players hurt in last Sunday’s 19-13 victory over the New York Giants--defensive tackle Alvin Wright (shoulder injury), tackle Jackie Slater (shoulder injury) and linebacker Fred Strickland (injured left knee)--are each expected to miss at least a week. All three starters are listed as doubtful for Sunday night’s game against the Saints in New Orleans. “Fred is gone for two weeks,” Robinson said, “but Al and Jackie may be back sooner.”

Ron Brown, who left the team after six years to join the Raiders as a cornerback last season, worked out with the Rams as a wide receiver Wednesday. Brown was released last month by the Raiders. . . . The Rams also gave a workout to defensive tackle Ben Thomas, who was one of the team’s last cuts this summer.