PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : RAMS : Ron Brown Becomes No. 3 Receiver

Needing to fill the void caused by Flipper Anderson’s back injury, the Rams signed familiar face Ron Brown Wednesday and named him their No. 3 wide receiver.

Brown, who holds most of the Rams’ career kickoff return records, was released by the Raiders this summer in their last round of cuts.

“I think probably you’re looking for immediate help,” Ram Coach John Robinson said. “And Ron, having been familiar with the system, I think that’s an important aspect.

“He has great speed, obviously, and that affects coverages.”

Brown will see time on passing downs and almost certainly will team with Vernon Turner returning kickoffs against the Green Bay Packers Sunday at Anaheim Stadium. Anderson is expected to miss three or four weeks with a cracked vertebra in his lower right back.

“I’m going around in circles,” Brown said with a smile Wednesday. “But this is good. It’s good to be back on the other side of the ball. It’s better for me than defense, definitely.”

Three injured starters--right tackle Jackie Slater (shoulder), left linebacker Fred Strickland (knee) and defensive tackle Alvin Wright (shoulder)--resumed limited workouts Wednesday, but Robinson said he wasn’t sure if any or all could play Sunday . . . Defensive tackle Mike Piel (shoulder) and guard Bern Brostek (ankle) definitely won’t play.

There are about 13,200 tickets remaining for Sunday’s game. If the tickets are not sold by 1 p.m. today, the game will be blacked out locally.