PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : RAMS : A Definite Void at Tight End

The Rams had six months to prepare for training camp, and yet when it came time for their first two practices Monday, they took the field without a tight end in uniform.

Jay Zygmunt, the team’s senior vice president, reached a last-minute contract agreement Sunday with tight end Travis McNeal, and then advised Coach Chuck Knox that McNeal would arrive at Cal State Fullerton in time for Monday’s first practice.

But McNeal’s car broke down and the Ram coaching staff had to improvise, with guards, tackles and wide receivers pulling tight end duty.

The Rams have five tight ends on their roster, but because of their time in service, Pat Carter and Damone Johnson were not required to report to this phase of camp. The coaching staff had counted on Jim Price, but Zygmunt has failed to come to terms with him.

Troy Drayton, the team’s second-round draft choice, also remains unsigned.

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The Rams were dealt a blow early in their search to find a No. 3 wide receiver when Todd Kinchen suffered an off-season knee injury playing basketball. They switched their attention to UCLA’s Sean LaChapelle, a fifth-round pick.

LaChapelle, however, spent much of Monday afternoon standing as a spectator.

“He has tight hamstrings,” Knox said.

Then free agent Joe Washington suffered a shoulder injury in afternoon drills and left the field.

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Defensive tackle David Rocker was a standout performer in one-on-one drills.

“It was a good pass-rushing day for me, but then that’s the thing I worked on during the off-season,” Rocker said. “Sean Jones of the Houston Oilers is a good friend and it’s the greatest thing that could have ever happened to me.

“We went to the park this summer and he’d just work on my pass rush. He played the role of both offensive lineman and teacher. When you’ve been doing it as long as he has, you know all the moves.”