PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : RAMS : Three Backs Skip Trip to Cleveland

After a 90-minute workout, the Rams left their Cal State Fullerton training camp for Cleveland, but without three of their top running backs.

Anthony Thompson, who underwent surgery Sunday to repair his broken right hand, David Lang (surgery on right knee) and rookie Jerome Bettis (sprained right ankle) didn’t make the trip for Saturday’s exhibition against the Browns.

Also skipping the trip are rookie wide receiver Phillip Bobo (knee), tackle Shawn Harper (broken foot) and rookie linebacker Carlton Miles.

“It’s an obvious list,” Coach Chuck Knox said. “It’s all the guys with casts on their feet.”

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With Bettis, Thompson and Lang sidelined, rookie Russell White and Tim Lester are expected to start.

Tailback Cleveland Gary, who signed last week after a long holdout, had planned to begin workouts early this week, but instead will join the team in Cleveland later this week.

Knox said the injuries to the running backs put more pressure on the rest of the offense.

“I want to see marked improvement this week,” he said. “When you have as many running backs out as we do, everyone else has to pick their level up a notch. Something like this could happen during the regular season.”

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The Rams have scheduled light workouts with the Browns the next two days. The teams will play at 4 p.m. Saturday.

“It will be good for us, a change of environment,” Knox said. “We’ll get to work against someone else instead of knocking heads against each other.”

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Knox said he didn’t know if the Rams plan to sign 6-foot-6, 310-pound offensive lineman Ron Hallstrom, who was released by the Green Bay Packers on Monday. The Rams considered signing Hallstrom in the off-season, and his ability to play both guard and tackle would give them more depth.