PRO FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : RAMS : Gary Carries Added Weight to Practice

Running back Cleveland Gary was carrying a few more pounds than last season, but more important for the Rams, he was also packing the ball Wednesday in practice at Berea, Ohio.

The Rams have been caught short at running back because of injuries to Jerome Bettis, Anthony Thompson and David Lang. Gary, the team’s leading rusher and receiver last season, signed a contract late last week and joined the team Tuesday night.

“We want to get him ready as fast as possible, but we have to be conscious of the man’s combat readiness,” said Chick Harris, who coaches the running backs. “We will filter him into practice, but still with the understanding we don’t want to put too much stress on his legs until they are conditioned properly.”

Gary took only a couple of handoffs in the team’s 11-on-11 workout with the Browns, whom the Rams will play in Saturday’s exhibition. Coach Chuck Knox said he hasn’t decided whether Gary will play against the Browns on Saturday night.

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Although the Rams had Gary, they were forced to hold out running back Russell White after he limped through pre-practice warm-ups. White bruised his thigh in last week’s exhibition game against with San Diego.

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Cleveland reporters crowded around Mike Pagel, the former Browns’ quarterback now with the Rams, before the joint practice. Pagel then took the field against his old team and threw an interception on his first pass.

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Center Kelvin Harris, the team’s 12th-round pick last season, was released.