PRO FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : RAMS : Hawkins Sidelined by Knee Injury

Starting defensive end Bill Hawkins tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee Sunday and is out for the season.

Coach Chuck Knox said Hawkins would be flying to Miami, Hawkins’ hometown, for another examination this week and would probably undergo surgery soon after.

Hawkins, who seriously injured his right knee during his rookie year in 1989 and took about two years to fully recover, had started eight of nine games this season, recorded two sacks, and was giving his steadiest performance as a pro.

“It was on a trap-play, the guy pulled and (Hawkins) kind of got his foot planted and (was) trapped from outside in, and the guy just hit him,” Knox said.

“He was playing well. He gave us good pass rush. He was having a good year.”

Knox said he would decide today how to replace Hawkins on the roster. Running back Robert Delpino is eligible and could be ready to come off injured reserve, but Knox said he might want to activate defensive tackle David Rocker from the team’s practice squad.

Delpino is “getting close,” Knox said, but still is uncertain. One possibility is to activate Delpino and Rocker, put Hawkins on injured reserve and waive unused tailback Anthony Thompson.

Mike Piel, who replaced Hawkins Sunday and played relatively well, and Robert Young, who missed the game because of a bone bruise on his left leg, are the two leading candidates to replace Hawkins in the lineup.