PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : RAMS : Hamstring Injury Keeps Gary Home

Running back Cleveland Gary was one of 11 Rams who didn’t make the trip to Seattle for tonight’s exhibition opener against the Seahawks.

Gary missed his second practice day Wednesday because of tenderness in his hamstring and joins cornerback Todd Lyght, No. 1 draft pick Sean Gilbert and receiver Henry Ellard as injured starters who will not suit up.

Robert Delpino will move over from fullback to take Gary’s spot at tailback, with 10th-round pick Tim Lester stepping into the starting fullback spot, Coach Chuck Knox said Wednesday. David Lang will see action, spelling both Delpino and Lester with the first unit offense, Knox said.

Knox has said one of the things he most wants to see tonight is an effective running game. The Rams struggled on the ground in Saturday’s scrimmage against the San Diego Chargers.

Knox also said he wanted to take a close look at a few young offensive linemen and get a better idea of which of the handful of defensive ends and outside linebackers can sustain a consistent pass-rush.

Seattle center Grant Feasel is one of many Seahawk veterans who will be playing for the first time against Knox, who coached the Seahawks for nine seasons before resigning in January.

“Obviously, I have a lot of respect for the guy,” Feasel said. “I was on the streets, and he gave me a job and had confidence in me and that’s the reason I’m here. I’ll always have a lot of respect for him, but he wouldn’t expect anything less out of me than to go out and try to kill his guys.”

The Rams’ first-team units should see about one half of action tonight. . . . Seattle Coach Tom Flores said he probably will play Kelly Stouffer at quarterback in the first half, then give the second half to second-year player Dan McGwire, who is in a battle with Stouffer for the starting job.