PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : RAMS : Replacing Stewart Won’t Be Easy

The Rams’ biggest chore in the two weeks before their next game will be to find a way to replace strong safety Michael Stewart, who broke a bone in his left forearm Sunday and will be out for at least four weeks, probably longer.

Stewart, who is scheduled to get a plate inserted into his forearm this week, played a key support role in the defense, often lining up as a linebacker when the team went to multiple-defensive back sets.

Coach Chuck Knox said Monday he wasn’t sure yet how the team will replace Stewart. Rookie Chris Crooms played in Stewart’s spot after the injury Sunday.

The Rams have the option on running downs to move starting free safety Anthony Newman to strong safety and insert former starting free safety Pat Terrell in for Newman. But on passing downs, the Rams have been playing all three and sometimes four safeties, and Knox said the team needs another free safety on pass downs and might use a cornerback there.

It’s likely that cornerback Todd Lyght, who is eligible to come off the injured-reserve list this week after missing four games because of a dislocated shoulder and seems to be the Ram corner most suited physically for safety, will take Stewart’s roster spot, but Knox said he’d prefer to keep Lyght at cornerback.

“It will be difficult to replace Michael Stewart,” Knox said. “It’s not like you just go out there say, ‘Here’s where you line up.’ ”

Asked what he said to rookie Sean Gilbert after Gilbert’s stadium-shaking dance after his first NFL sack, Knox shook his said. “Oh, I just said, ‘Congratulations,’ ” Knox said. And what did the coach think of Gilbert’s gyrations? “Well . . . we usually don’t do that kind of stuff,” Knox said. “But we had the exuberance there and it was spontaneous, so I don’t think it could be construed as being premeditated.”